Like all organizations, Towson Athletics and the Tiger Athletic Fund are preparing for the economic shortfalls endured by the COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
 
Director of Athletics Tim Leonard is hopeful that all programs will have what they need to be successful, thanks to Towson University President Kim Schatzel and her efforts to provide athletics with as many resources as possible. Despite the university's investment, cost saving measures will be implemented across the athletic department. Towson's 19 Division I programs will be challenged to prioritize their operational spending.
 
Should coaches wish to provide opportunities that enhance the student-athlete experience for their programs—things like leadership workshops, upgraded accommodations, additional team travel, recruiting trips, performance technology—they will need to rely on their team's Foundation Account, where private support and donations are kept.
 
As funds are used, they will also need to be replenished. The Tiger Athletic Fund (TAF) was established to strengthen all fundraising initiatives for Towson Athletics, and will work tirelessly to ensure that the student-athlete experience for over 500 Tigers is unaffected by the economic ramifications of COVID-19. It is through their time at Towson University as student-athletes, and the culture they are immersed in, that molds them into our next generation of leaders and decision makers. Those enhanced opportunities are critical to their success at Towson and beyond.
 
Even prior to the pandemic, TAF was committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience. Typically, this time of year (Feb – June 30) is spent renewing annual support—asking all donors from the previous year to give at or above their commitment from the year prior to ensure that growth is sustained and funds are replenished. TAF asks their community of support to #FinishStrong; to make their gift prior to June 30 when the athletic year officially ends for Towson, just as the Tigers are finishing strong in the classroom and in competition to set themselves for another year of increased success. Out of respect for the varying degrees of circumstances, TAF went dark for the first two months and limited their efforts to a once-a-week newsletter. This allowed the community to focus on their health and safety, while also allowing the department to get a firm grasp on return to play scenarios and a plan to recover financially.
 
With the initial shock fading, the department is able to assess the damage and begin creating plans to move forward. Part of this process is also determining which areas of operation can be sustained or deprioritized—a situation all organizations across the country are facing, not only mid-majors.
 
One such area within Towson Athletics are resources that improve student-athlete competitive excellence—specifically nutrition and mental health. Fortunately, this area has been deemed critically important to student-athlete well-being; however, will operate on a significantly reduced budget. In an area where growth and trajectory were on the up, operating with less is detrimental to its progress.
 
Thus, the Tiger Athletic Fund has partnered with Towson Sports Medicine to #FinishStrong—focusing all fundraising efforts to sustain the growth in resources for student-athlete well-being. From now until June 30^th, TAF is asking for the community to come together in support of the fund for Student-Athlete Well-being and Competitive Excellence.
 
Funds raised will support the Fuel Zone, nutrition education, dietitian support, sport psychology and mental health programs.
 
Through the #FinishStrong campaign, donors can choose tos support other areas of the department in addition to, or in place of well-being initiatives. Replenishing sport enhancement accounts remains a priority as coaches prepare for the 2020-21 season and beyond.
 
In a time where members of the community are looking for various ways to show their support, donations of all sizes will show Tigers student-athletes and coaches that there is a team behind their teams, supporting their initiatives to provide a beneficial student-athlete experience.
 
All donors that make a gift between March 15 and June 30, 2020 will be featured in the Tiger Athletic Fund's 'Welcome Back' collage. Your name will be on display as our Tigers return back to the Towson Center Weight Room, giving us the chance to show them the team of support behind their return to campus after a shortened season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
To make a gift now in support of #FinishStrong, please click here.
 
Over 3,500 members of the Towson community—including former Tigers, parents and past donors—should be on the lookout for a mailer in the next 1-2 weeks with an opportunity to give.
 
Thank you for going above and beyond to support Tiger student-athletes. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus soon.