They stumbled into the room with rain-dampened hoodies over their heads, a long line of Chico State student-athletes, who having just rolled out of bed, would have made a great batch of extras for the next zombie apocalypse film.
Who knew that they were actually up to something so cool?
The 300 or so Chico State student-athletes quickly came alive, taking over the room with infectious energy and powerful conviction.
Chico State's student-athletes wrap up their "C-H-I-C-O! Chico!
You know! You Know!" cheer to kick off Giving Day.
After team cheers by the cross country and women's soccer programs, followed by the men's basketball team's mini dance party, the student-athletes set a wonderful tone for Chico State Giving Day. Instead of accepting the $850 bonus set to go to the winning team in Thursday morning's competition, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee co-presidents Claire Wayne and Dylan Smith announced that the student-athletes had decided to donate that money to the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry instead.
"Part of being the Wildcat Family is supporting our fellow students through the pantry," Wayne said. "We couldn't think of a better way to start Giving Day."
When you give to the Department of Athletics or your favorite team on Chico State Giving Day, you help us field the most competitive programs possible. But more importantly, you are making an investment in the lives of the next generation of great educators, first responders, philanthropists, and the like.
Thursday morning's event amplified that reality.
During the recent Camp Fire, and in its aftermath, many of our student-athletes and alumni rose up to aid those in need of help.
Below are some bullet points regarding some of those efforts, along with Chico State's successes since last Giving Day, in which 467 donors so generously stepped up to give more than $75,000.
'Cats Camp Fire Relief
The cross country team does its "Ain't No Runner Like A Chico Runner"
pre-race chant during the Giving Day kickoff event
❤️Baseball players/coaches collected & distributed baseball gear to Paradise Little League.
❤️Softball players/coaches volunteered at local animal shelters and helped feed thousands.
❤️Chico State soccer alumni organized and ran the Chris Wondolowski Soccer Camp, raising money for and providing a free day of soccer to displaced/affected youth.
❤️Women's basketball alumna Alexa Benson-Valavanis has led the fundraising efforts of the North Valley Community Foundation, which has raised more than $25 million.
❤️Football alumnus Paul Lema welcomed World Central Kitchen into his business space (Italian Guy Catering) and helped feed thousands of people who were displaced.
2018-19 Successes
🐾All 13 Chico State Athletics programs reached the postseason
🐾A conference-high 82 Wildcats earned CCAA All-Academic honors (3.40 GPA or better)
🐾For the fifth time in eight years, Chico State won the Commissioner's Cup,presented annually to the CCAA school with the best overall athletics performance
🐾The Wildcats earned five CCAA titles and eight NCAA Championship berths
This year, our goal is to eclipse 500 donors. Every gift, large, small, or in between, will help us reach that goal!
Here is how to give to your favorite team(s):
Baseball: text chicoathletics1 to 71777
Members of the women's golf team during the Giving Day kickoff event.
Men's Basketball: text chicoathletics2 to 71777
Women's Basketball: text chicoathletics3 to 71777
Men's Cross Country: text chicoathletics4 to 71777
Women's Cross Country: text chicoathletics5 to 71777
Men's Golf: text chicoathletics6 to 71777
Women's Golf: text chicoathletics7 to 71777
Men's Soccer: text chicoathletics8 to 71777
Women's Soccer: text chicoathletics9 to 71777
Softball: text chicoathletics10 to 71777
Men's Track & Field: text chicoathletics11 to 71777
Women's Track & Field: text chicoathletics12 to 71777
Volleyball: text chicoathletics13 to 71777
The women's soccer team does its pre-game chant during the Giving Day kickoff event.
