DEVELOPMENT CORNER Zone Club Donors Offer Unique Gift By Rusty Burson

The new Football Complex and Academic Center in the Kyle Field south end zone recently received a major boost from the north end zone.

In one of the most unique gifts yet to The Championship Vision capital campaign, Zone Club donors contributed approximately $38,000 to the new facility through their stored value cards.

Last year, stored value cards were used to purchase food and beverages in the Zone Club. When the transition was made to a cash basis this year, the 12th Man Foundation sent letters to Zone Club members with a remaining balance on their cards, asking them if they would like to make a group contribution or receive a refund.

Donors enjoy another football Saturday inside The Zone Club.

More than 90 percent of Zone Club members decided to contribute the remaining balance on their stored value cards to the Championship Vision.

"Zone Club members stepped forward in typical 12th Man fashion," 12th Man Foundation executive director Miles Marks said. "So many of our Zone Club members had already made significant donations to the capital campaign, but they were again willing to answer the call.

"Some of our Zone Club donors donated more than $1,000 from their cards to this project. Other contributions were significantly smaller, but the vast majority participated. It’s because of people like this that we are well on our way to reaching our goals with the Championship Vision."

The $38,000 donation from the Zone Club members will be used to name a tutoring center in the new facility.

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ANOTHER UNIQUE GIFT
In addition to the donation from Zone Club donors, The Championship Vision recently received a pledge from a former student and her spouse in honor of two outstanding student-athletes: Monica San Miguel (tennis) and Mark Naftanel (diving).

The donor tutored both student-athletes while she was completing her undergraduate studies. The donor said she wanted to pledge on the behalf of the student-athletes because of the dedication both San Miguel and Naftanel displayed in the classroom.

In recognition of their achievements, she and her husband dedicated a study carrel in the academic center in each of their names. The donor asked that her name remain anonymous, so that the full recognition could be given to San Miguel and Naftanel.

That’s "good bull."

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BASKETBALL NEWS
Basketball season is quickly approaching, and season tickets will be mailed this week to 12th Man Foundation donors who have paid their 2001-02 basketball donation and season ticket cost. If you have any questions regarding your season tickets, please contact 888-826-1284.

All Aggie basketball fans are also encouraged to attend the "Project Full House" breakfast on Oct. 26 at 7:30 a.m. at Reed Arena. The breakfast is free to anyone interested in supporting the basketball program.

"We’ve sent out something like 4,400 invitations to the breakfast to rally some support and generate season-ticket sales," said Kevin Hurley, assistant athletic director for Texas A&M basketball. "There’s all sorts of trinkets we’re going to give out for those who attend, and we’ll have the team there for everyone to meet.

"We’ll also have a video, we’ve got coaches who are going to speak, things like that. But the bottom line is that we want people to get excited about this season and purchase season tickets."

For more information, contact Hurley at 979-862-2575.