Shalala Pledges Major Gift at CWA Event
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Former University of Miami President Donna Shalala pledged a major gift to the Edna Shalala Women’s Athletics Fund at the third annual Celebration of Women’s Athletics event, the UM Athletics Department announced Wednesday.
Shalala will match all gifts up to $100,000 for the CWA, which will take place on Sunday, February 12, 2017. The event starts with an awards brunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Watsco Center Fieldhouse, followed by Miami’s women’s basketball game against ACC rival Clemson at 2 p.m. The Hurricanes are currently 14-4 and ranked No. 14 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches Polls.
“Donna has long been a generous supporter of women’s athletics at Miami,” said Jennifer Strawley, Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator. “We are honored that she continues to remain engaged in our CWA event and thrilled that she is serving as the catalyst for our latest fundraising efforts to support all of our women’s programs.”
The Celebration awards brunch will honor current Miami female student-athletes from each of UM’s nine women’s programs for excellence on the playing field, as well as in the classroom and community. All proceeds from the event go to the Edna Shalala Women’s Athletics Fund, which provides UM female student-athletes with first-class opportunities to compete, study and prepare themselves for life after athletics.
Former UM women’s basketball standout and current Mayor of Dania Beach, Fla., Tamara James, will be the event’s keynote speaker. James played for the Hurricanes from 2002-06 and is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,406 career points. She was elected mayor of her hometown this past November.
Tickets to the Celebration of Women’s Athletics are $50 per person. Sponsorships for the Celebration are also available. For $1,000, a Table Sponsorship will include a table at the brunch, table recognition and recognition in the program. For $2,500, Presenting Sponsors will receive a table at the brunch with a student-athlete, recognition on the back cover of the program, visible recognition during the brunch and an announcement of recognition during the women’s basketball game.
Title Sponsorships are $5,000 and includes a table at the brunch with a student-athlete, recognition on the front cover of the program, visible recognition during the brunch and an announcement of recognition during the women’s basketball game. For more information, visit www.2017CWA.eventbrite.com or contact the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6480.
