Bethany Launches Athletic Association

LINDSBORG, Kan.— Fans of Bethany student athletes have a new way to say, “Go Swedes.”
     
      On July 1 Bethany College officially kicked off the Bethany Athletic Association, an organization that will help support the college’s general fund through gifts made to Bethany athletics.

      Friends, parents and alumni of the college are invited to join. Membership dues will underwrite the annual operating budget of the athletic department and association expenses. Members also can designate that their funds underwrite expenses for particular sports.

      “Many alumni have fond memories of representing Bethany in athletic competition, and many credit their sports experience with their success in life today. This association is a way for these people to give to their passion while supporting the larger mission of the college,” said Bethany President Paul Formo.

      Currently headed by former head football coach Ted Kessinger, the giving association has been two years in the making.

      Kessinger first approached Formo with the idea in 2004. Interest-specific giving associations are nothing new in colleges and universities. Several Lutheran colleges already have such giving clubs. “I could see that it had a lot of potential,” Formo said.

      Formo hired Kessinger as a consultant to research the idea and find out if it could work within the Bethany community. Kessinger mailed surveys, made phone calls and met with potential members one-on-one.

      “The response was overwhelming,” Kessinger said.

      One hundred percent of the surveys were returned, with 95 percent indicating some level of support. 

Laying a Foundation

      With clear evidence that the association could increase overall giving and reconnect alumni with the college, in February 2004 the Bethany board approved development of the association. Kessinger continued as director of the association, with the understanding that he would lay the foundation while the Bethany athletic director would eventually assume day-to-day administrative responsibilities.

      Kessinger then went to work on a strategic plan, setting membership goals and a timeline. He sought input from interested alumni and friends and formed an association board.

      Early this year, Kessinger began soliciting charter memberships for the organization. Charter members will be accepted through Dec. 31. To date, more than 100 individuals have committed to charter membership with more than $50,000 in association donations received. 

Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

      Although these statistics are impressive, Kessinger said building relationships is more important.

      Formo concurred. “For me the key is getting people energized about supporting Bethany College because they had a good experience here.”

      Kessinger and Formo said the association will offer those with a love of sports a more focused avenue of giving to the college.

      “People give to their passion,” Kessinger said.

      Because the ultimate goal is to make the college the best it can be for current students, funds received will underwrite the athletic department’s budget. According to Formo, when the college is on solid financial footing, the association could later open up to gifts for expenses above and beyond the regular athletic-department budget.

      Gifts at all giving levels can be taken as an educational tax deduction. All members will receive a membership card, a Bethany athletic department newsletter, and game-program recognition. Other membership premiums vary with giving levels.

      But in Kessinger’s eyes, “the donor who gives $50 is just as important as those who give $5000.”

      If the program proves to be successful in the long term, Formo can see other such associations created at Bethany.

            “As a participatory college, many of our friends and alumni are intellectually and emotionally connected to the college through a particular interest, be it art, music or campus ministry. This model could prove very helpful to Bethany,” Formo said. 

       The Bethany Athletic Association has six goals:

      •  Uniting the older and younger alumni and friends of Bethany athletics into a  team,

      •  Enhance awareness, bonding of alumni-athletes, re-kindle the fire and passion for Bethany student athletics,

      •  Enhance communication, keeping our alumni involved and informed of the status of Bethany athletics,

      •  Supporting the operating budget, financially supporting specific sports and the general athletic budget through                 the general fund,

      •  Reduce the chances of more athletic department budget cuts and/or reduction of sports at Bethany,

      •  Advance Bethany athletics, provide an opportunity for alumni-athletes, family members, and friends to financially support  the giving stream of the Bethany Athletics Association.

      For more information on how you can become a “Go Swedes” member, contact Kessinger at goswedes@bethanylb.edu or call the athletic department at (785) 227-3380, extension 8184.