Oklahoma State University Athletics
POSSE Sets Goal of 10,000 Members
August 19, 2008 | General
One of the major reasons Oklahoma State has been so successful is because of the faithful support by POSSE members over the past 44 years. Gifts to the POSSE, the official fundraising arm of OSU Athletics, enable alumni and friends of OSU to fund athletic scholarships and support operating budgets for all of our 18 varsity sports. Thanks to the tremendous loyalty of our supporters, the POSSE has had a major impact in allowing OSU to offer terrific academic and athletic opportunities to student-athletes.
This is an exciting time to be involved with Oklahoma State Athletics. We are the talk of the nation when it comes to plans for improved facilities and our passionate fans; OSU has entered a new era, poised to reach even greater heights.
One of the major reasons for the excitement is the great momentum in our annual fundraising efforts. A total of 8,058 members contributed to the POSSE last year, up from 5,911 members during the 2006-07 academic year. That increase represented a 36-percent jump in membership. We have had a greater level of participation in the POSSE from alumni, parents, fans, staff and friends of OSU than ever before; however, there is still work to do.
If we expect to continue the success that has become tradition at Oklahoma State, we must adequately provide the financial resources for all of our sports programs by continuing to increase our annual membership base. An expanding support group is paramount.
Recently, our department launched a fundraising drive that seeks to increase the number of athletic donors to the POSSE to 10,000 in 2009. For us to achieve this ambitious goal, it is going to take a team effort. We all have an opportunity to be a part of this critical time in shaping the OSU athletic program for generations to come.
We hope current members rally around this campaign and enlist other family, friends and alumni to help us continue to grow in this critical era for OSU Athletics. Participation is the key. Annual membership giving levels start at $150.
There is no greater benefit of being an active member of the POSSE than knowing you are helping one of our 467 student-athletes have an opportunity to pursue a college education. In addition, the POSSE has also created a number of tangible benefits afforded to those members giving at specified levels. Included in this variety of exclusive benefits are priority ticket options for football, men's and women's basketball, wrestling and postseason events, the award-winning POSSE Magazine, e-mail updates, bowl game activities, special ticket alerts, decals, membership cards for discounts of OSU merchandise and an educational tax deduction.
While these benefits can be incentives for giving, we hope our supporters will not lose sight of the principle mission of the POSSE – which is changing lives. Help us reach the goal of 10,000 members – join today!
For more information about joining the team behind the teams, contact the POSSE at or 877-2B-POSSE. Also, please do not hesitate to call me directly at 405-744-3275.
GO STATE!
Jason Penry
Director, POSSE
