Feb. 26, 2013

Fresh off a record-breaking year in total members and total dollars raised in 2012, the UCLA Athletic Department is preparing to launch its 2013 Wooden Athletic Fund annual fund campaign.

The annual Wooden Athletic Fund membership guide and renewal packages will be sent to current donors over the course of the next few weeks and will provide an in-depth look into all participation opportunities within UCLA Athletics.

Additionally, the Wooden Athletic Fund is unveiling its "Become a Champion" campaign, which is new for the 2013 giving year. In this campaign, all current Wooden Athletic Fund donors are being encouraged to increase at least one giving level from what they donated in 2012; all UCLA alumni, fans and friends who are not yet members are encouraged to join the Wooden Athletic Fund at the minimum $100 dollar level; and all current donors are encouraged to refer a new member to the Wooden Athletic Fund in 2013.

Anyone who participates in any of these three ways will automatically qualify to "Become a Champion" and will receive an exclusive Wooden Athletic Fund adidas hat.

At the beginning of the 2012 giving year, the Wooden Athletic Fund announced the "1500 Campaign," a movement encouraging the addition of 1,500 new donors to the annual fund. After many generous UCLA alumni, fans and friends joined the Wooden Athletic Fund, UCLA Athletics proudly announced last November that the goal had been met, and that, in fact, more than 2,000 new donors joined in 2012. The annual fund now boasts more than 5,100 total members, and more than $11.5 million dollars were raised last year for student-athlete scholarship support and resources.

"Every one of our student-athletes here at UCLA is a champion in competition, in the classroom and in the community," said Josh Rebholz, Associate Athletics Director of Development. "We simply cannot thank all of those who give back so generously to UCLA Athletics enough; they truly do make a difference in our ability for success. This year, we are asking these passionate donors, alumni and fans to become champions as well by elevating their support of these student-athletes and giving them more of the resources they need to compete amongst the nation's elite."

All 2012 Wooden Athletic Fund donors will receive a renewal form that will detail the option of renewing at their current level (minimum required donation amounts for football and/or men's basketball priority seating remain unchanged from 2012,) or their "Become a Champion" amount. To be eligible for 2013 WAF membership benefits, including priority parking and priority seating, donations must be received in full prior to June 30, 2013. Automatic pre-approved payment plans are available upon request.

Donors are strongly encouraged to renew their membership online. To renew online, donors should visit woodenathleticfund.com and click "Renew Membership" under the "Donate Now" tab. They will need your 10-digit User Identification Number listed under your name on the Statement of Support.

Any donors wishing to contribute specifically to individual sports will once again have the option to do so through program-specific giving clubs, which can be found here. Please remember that donations made directly to individual sports do not count towards priority seating requirements.

For any questions regarding Wooden Athletic Fund or UCLA Athletics Development options, please contact a member of the UCLA Athletics Development team at 310-206-3302.