Donate – Friends of Fairfield Rugby

Program Donations

Have you done your good deed for today? No? The Friends of Fairfield Rugby can help you with that. Get that warm Red Rugger feeling by making a donation to the FOFR. We have several giving levels to choose from, and if you want something in between (or beyond), use the quantity field to adjust your donation (example: choose $50 donation and change the quantity to 2 for a $100 donation).

Your donation will support these essential pillars of an elite program:

Create permanency for the Director of Rugby position and 4 team coaches
Player development programs, clinics, and specialized training at the Walsh Athletic Center
Enhanced recruitment & retention initiatives
Team kits, coach’s apparel, and practice equipment
Community outreach including the City of Bridgeport Rugby Alliance (COBRA) bringing rugby to at risk youth in a safe & supportive environment
FOFR operations (Rugby Fest, Networking Nights, awards, website/social media, insurance, communications, tax & regulatory filings)

Grauert Field Upgrade

Dedicated on April 26, 1969, Lt. Hans Grauert Memorial Field has been home to Fairfield Rugby for more than 55 years. The field was constructed through the generosity of Mrs. Leila Grauert P’68, Chris Grauert ’68, and the Grauert family, and was the first collegiate rugby field in the United States initially built, named, and dedicated to the sport. Our campaign, along with University support, will fund a complete renovation of Lt. Hans Grauert Memorial Field, making it a best-in-class, turf rugby field, suitable for play at the highest international level. Exciting enhancements will include new goal posts, an electronic scoreboard, and terrace seating on the hillside for fans.

Your generosity will enhance the utilization and appearance of the field, improve fan and player satisfaction, reduce player injury, and significantly increase program visibility and player recruitment.

Scholorships

The availability of scholarship is essential to the rugby program, enabling some of the most deserving players to pursue a first-rate education while ensuring Fairfield is competitive in player recruitment. The permanently endowed Ciacci-Pascale rugby scholarship and new FOFR current use grants have already made an impact on the program by supporting over 20 players, and providing financial aid for many of these scholarship recipients for two or more years. Your generosity will increase the number of endowed scholarships offered and FOFR current use grants, creating a profound impact on the program and lives of our male and female student-athletes.

Dear Friends & Supporters of Fairfield Rugby:

I hope that you, your family, and friends are healthy and safe. These are still difficult times to be a recent FU graduate, or a current undergrad and parent dealing with uncertainty in our society. One thing is certain though, and that’s the resilience of a Fairfield Rugger and our teams need your support for the upcoming season.

BE INSPIRED by the resilience and strength of our rugby student athletes; they are back practicing on Grauert Field in preparation for fall competition in whatever form it is safe to play the game. You can make a gift to support our FURC members; prior to the pandemic we had approximately 135 men & women and most are back on the pitch.

Amid the extraordinary challenges in our country and around the world, these remain exciting times for Fairfield Rugby as we build on the tremendous progress in recent years that has developed two nationally-ranked teams. Of course we had to pause and focus on student health, safety, and wellness but with your generosity and support we have kept the program intact.

If you are fortunate enough to support Fairfield University Rugby and our goal to be an elite program, we’d love to see more than a few scrum’s worth of support on the STAGiving Day. We are looking for at least 100 donors and to exceed the $61,000 raised last June. With an average contribution of $750 raising $75,000 plus is very doable so please join me to make it happen.

With our restricted donor account options you direct your rugby donation as you see fit. Men’s team, Women’s team, Scholarships, Grauert Field, Program Needs are options to choose from. Your donation will support these essential pillars of the program that require ongoing funding:

Player retention & high school recruiting to raise our level of play
Current use scholarship commitments, and greater student-athlete financial aid
Funding the Director of Rugby role and 4 USA Rugby certified coaches (2 for each team)
Training at Walsh Athletic Center including nutrition guidance and online support
Service outreach via The City of Bridgeport Rugby Alliance (COBRA), supporting at-risk Bridgeport youth
Safely rebuilding momentum and the national rankings of the men’s & women’s teams

Gifts of $1,000 or more to Fairfield Rugby through the University or the FOFR will be recognized for membership in The President’s Circle.

The Fairfield Rugby Community looks to you, our most loyal supporters, as leaders. Please reach out to your network and ask them to follow your example and donate; either the FOFR or the University rugby donor site is fine and no amount is too small.

I’m cautiously optimistic, and hope to see you all in the fall on Grauert Field at Rugby Fest 2021.

Thank you from the bottom of my Red Rugger heart,

Bart

H. Bart Franey ’67

President, FOFR

bartfraney@gmail.com

615-828-5205 mobile

Friends of Fairfield Rugby is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donations to the FOFR are tax deductible. Download the IRS documentation of our charitable tax-exempt status at this link.

Your Voluntary Donation makes it possible to fund our vision and goals; we could not do that on our modest membership fees so we decided to phase out memberships and eliminate the administrative requirements that went along with it.

For Corporate Matching gifts, or if you prefer to send a donation by check, make it payable to THE PID FUND FOR FAIRFIELD RUGBY INC. and mail it to the FOFR Treasurer at the address below.

For donations of stocks, bonds, and other readily marketable securities please download and review the instructions at this link and then contact the FOFR; we are prepared to handle those transactions for you.

Friends of Fairfield Rugby Treasurer, Terrence F. Tangney ’87 , 536 Surrey Lane, Fairfield, CT 06824; tftangney@optonline.net

Friends of Fairfield Rugby Store Manager, Rory O’Connor ’12; rpoconnor89@gmail.com