Twenty-five years after the club was founded, Bear Backers has more than 5,400 members and provides important funding and support to Cal's Athletic Department.
Your Support Is Critical
No matter how you donate, your participation helps deserving young women and men continue the pursuit of athletic and academic excellence at Cal. Bear Backers endow scholarships, build new facilities, and help Cal's athletic programs to succeed.
What does your support mean to Cal? In his letter urging your support, Athletic Director John Kasser notes that none of Cal's 26 sports receives any money from the University or from the state. Bear Backers account for over five million dollars and have helped meet many individual fundraising goals.
Incredible Return on Investment
If the benefits of your donation level aren't incentive enough to join, think about...
- reading the Cal Athletic News every month...
- watching some of the country's best amateur athletes representing your university...
- experiencing the deafening roar of a Harmon crowd--in the new, 12,000-seat Haas Pavilion...
- looking out over the real grass in the country's most beautiful football stadium on a crisp autumn day...
- attending a luncheon with the coaches and players of your favorite Cal team...
- tailgating with new friends and Old Blues...
- watching students in bright Cal rugby shirts holding the Axe aloft...
- reading about another water polo or rugby championship, a Cal bowl victory, a return to the Sweet Sixteen or the College World Series--in both softball and baseball...
- seeing little kids across the country wearing Cal tee-shirts and hats...
If that doesn't make you cry blue and gold tears, then check your diploma. It probably doesn't say University of California on it. All of these things are possible with the strong support of Bear Backers.
What's the Best Way to Give?
If you just want to give to Cal Athletics, the best way is to donate to the Athletic General fund. If you'd like your money to go to a specific program or endowment, however, you have three additional options.
ATHLETIC GENERAL
Your contribution can go to the general fund of men's, women's, or combined men's and women's sports as determined by the most dire needs.
GRANTS-IN-AID
Your contribution provides needed funding for grants-in-aid including tuition, books, fees, and housing; athletic tutoring; and advising for men and women athletes.
ENDOWMENTS
Sport endowments and active endowed scholarships are an excellent way to ensure the future of athletics. Interest generated from the endowment principal provides funding for the purposes specified in the endowment. If you would like information on endowments and endowed scholarships, contact Bear Backers directly.
SPORTS FUNDS
If you are a fan of a particular sport, you can specify a certain amount of your donation to go to that sport. Such donations offset expenses for travel, uniforms, equipment, etc.
For sport-specific information, choose a link:
Baseball
Women's Basketball
Crew - Men
Crew - Women
Field Hockey
Golf - Men
Golf - Women
Gymnastics - Men
Gymnastics - Women
Rugby
Soccer - Men
Soccer - Women
Softball
Splash Club - Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Water Polo
Swimming & Diving - Women's
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball
Water Polo - Women's
A Message From the Athletic Director
With the help of alumni and friends in Bear Backers, the University of California, Berkeley can achieve excellence in athletics as well as academics. Bear Backer members, with their financial, moral, and volunteer support, are key elements in our drive to preeminence in all 26 sports.
Because we do not receive any funds from the state or the University, we must depend on private giving to provide the means for our student athletes to participate on Cal's teams. The resources that are generated through Bear Backers are used for scholarships, operations and improvement of facilities.
If we are to field the best teams, with the best student athletes, in the best arenas, fields, and courts, we must broaden the base of Bear Backers.
This year will mark the 25th year of the organization of Cal athletic backers. Without this support in the past, we would not be looking to such a positive future.
Bear Backer benefits go beyond priority seating. Your participation forges a partnership of strength and spirit with athletics and the student athletes.
You are making a vital difference with your support.
Go Bears!
John Kasser, Athletic Director
