| University of Florida Foundation, Inc. | |
| Christopher Brazda | 352-392-1633 |
| Public Relations | 100 NW 20th St |
| cbrazda@uff.ufl.edu | Gainesville, FL 32603 |
| For immediate release | Friday, September 29, 2006 |
$6.1 MILLION FOR ATHLETIC ENDOWMENT ANNOUNCED AT GATOR GALA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Nearly 1,100 members of the Gator Nation celebrated 100 years of Florida football tonight at the Gator Gala, where it was announced that $6.1 million has been raised for the UF Athletic Endowment Fund from proceeds of the gala and other projects surrounding the centennial celebration.
“We’re ecstatic with the fact that the amount raised at tonight’s gala is the highest amount ever raised at the University of Florida from a single special event,” said Danny Ponce, co-chairman of the Gator Gala. “These funds will have a significant, positive impact on this program for a long, long time.” The Athletic Endowment Fund provides scholarships for current and future Gator student-athletes.
The gala, held at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, was attended by many former Florida football players and coaches, as well as UF President Bernie Machen, whom addressed the attendees.
“All of you here tonight represent the essence and spirit of the Gator Nation,” said Machen. “Your support of tonight’s event will be felt for many years to come.”
The evening’s festivities carried a “vintage black tie” theme with decorations and memorabilia from different eras of the past 100 years. The main floor of the O’Connell Center featured wall-to-wall carpeting, a canopy and thirty 20-foot Washingtonia Palm trees.
Musical entertainment was provided by Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band, Big Band Sounds of World War II, Flash Cadillac, and the Brenda Bayne Ensemble.
The night went a long way toward a goal of Stumpy Harris, gala committee member and chair of the capital campaign for UF Athletics. “Once all scholarships are endowed, not only will it secure our future, but it will free up the funds that will allow us to maintain the nation’s best facilities, attract and retain the best coaches and recruit the best and brightest student-athletes,” said Harris.
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