2020 Johnnie Strong - Go Johnnies Challenge
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – To say that the 2020 Johnnie Strong-Go Johnnies Challenge was a success for the Saint John's University athletic department is an understatement.
A total of 1,036 donors contributed $241,549 to support SJU's student-athletes and athletic programs (*Note: the webpage does not yet include gifts received via mail Sept. 3-4).
The initial goal for the 24-hour campaign had been to reach 650 donors for each of SJU's 650 varsity and club student-athletes. That goal that had already been surpassed with 10 hours still remaining.
Planned in partnership by the athletic department, Institutional Advancement (alumni office) and J-Club volunteers, the event marked SJU athletics' second social fundraising campaign.
The first was held in April of 2019. This year's event had been scheduled for April as well, but was postponed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Johnnie alumni, fans and friends are the world's greatest," athletic director
Bob Alpers '82 said. "We are so grateful to you and we are incredibly humbled by your generosity."
Despite the postponement, the Go Johnnies Challenge's website remained live from late March to April 2 and 228 generous donors gave $39,375 over that time.
After the initial goal of 650 donors was reached Thursday, stretch goals of 900 and 1,000 donors were created to keep the momentum going.
• Of the 1,036 total donors, 74% were alumni, 16% parents, 7% friends, 3% faculty/staff and 3% students (some were categorized into multiple distinctions).
• 48 different people set up matches specific to a sport or organization, and inspired others to join in support.
• Donors came from 40 of the 50 U.S. states.
