University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooner Student-Athletes Say Thank You
April 24, 2012 | Athletics
 Thank-a-Thon Video |  Photo Gallery | TheSoonerClub.com |
NORMAN, Okla. -- Don't be surprised if you receive a phone call from a Sooner student-athlete this week.
The fourth annual Sooner Club Thank-a-Thon is underway, as OU student-athletes are taking time out of their schedules to personally say "Thank you!" to some of the program's most loyal supporters.
More than 100 student-athletes representing each of Oklahoma's 21 sports are participating in the three-day event from Monday, April 23 through Wednesday, April 25.
"It's really cool to get a chance to call people and personally tell them 'Thank you,'" said Romero Osby, a junior on the OU men's basketball team. "When we see them in the crowd or around campus, we might not even know their names, but they don't know how much we really appreciate everything they do. We come here to get an education and to compete for championships at one of the best universities in the country, and these people help us do it."
Sooner Club donations are used primarily to support student-athlete scholarships, as well as provide academic resources and funding for new and renovated facilities.
More than 8,500 individual donors have been contacted over the first three years of the event. This year's goal is to reach all 3,700+ Sooner Club members who participated in the Give 110% campaign by donating an additional 10 percent above their 2011 gift.
"The Thank-a-Thon has evolved into a terrific event for both Sooner Club members and OU's student-athletes," said Dusty Clements, OU Assistant AD for Annual Giving. "It is vital for our department to continue to recognize the tremendous impact that our donors have on every facet of our program. The event also serves an important purpose in educating OU student-athletes on the many ways donors help to provide the resources needed to be successful in their sport and in the classroom."
The OU Athletics Department is one of only a handful of programs nationwide that is entirely self-supporting and receives no state funds, university subsidies or student fees. This reality creates a significant need for private contributions. The department's reliance on private support increases each year as the cost of education and the resources necessary to maintain a quality athletics program continue to escalate.
The Athletics Department is responsible for the educational expenses (tuition, fees, room and board, books) of more than 500 student-athletes who receive scholarships to attend OU and represent the university in intercollegiate athletics competition.
The successes enjoyed by Oklahoma student-athletes in competition, as well as in the classroom, would not be possible without the generosity of Sooner fans across the country and around the world.
Support from Sooner Club members provides vital support to all 21 of OU's varsity sports and provides each program with the resources necessary to pursue championships and supply OU's student-athletes with the academic tools needed to obtain degrees and prepare for rewarding lives after they leave OU.
You can become a member of the Sooner Club for as little as $100. While members do receive a number of benefits based on their giving -- including priority seating opportunities, media guides, parking and priority points -- perhaps the greatest benefit is the knowledge that their contributions directly support the student-athletes who represent the university and state by wearing the Crimson and Cream.
To join the Sooner Club, or to find out more information on membership benefits, methods of giving and more, call (405) 325-8000 or (866) Sooner Club, or visit TheSoonerClub.com.
