By: Ryan Klinkner, SJU Director of Athletic Communications
2025 Go Johnnies Challenge
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University athletic department's 2025 Go Johnnies Challenge - a 24-hour, online giving campaign – held yesterday (Sept. 16) raised a record $319,286.
A total of 928 donors contributed to support SJU's student-athletes, athletic programs (varsity and club) and the Fighting Saints Battalion (ROTC program consisting of CSB+SJU and St. Cloud State students). The Go Johnnies Challenge has now raised over $1.8 million for SJU athletics in the seven-year history of the event.
The amount raised broke the previous record of $269,623 set during the inaugural Go Johnnies Challenge held April 11, 2019. The 1,100 donors who contributed that day still serve as the record. The 2024 Go Johnnies Challenge featured 916 donors and raised $239,834 last September.
The initial goal for the 24-hour campaign was to reach 650 donors for each of SJU's 650 varsity and club student-athletes. The event is a partnership between the athletic department, Institutional Advancement (alumni office) and J-Club volunteers.
"What an incredible day for Saint John's and for Johnnie athletics," SJU interim director of athletics
Dan O'Brien said. "We are grateful for the profound generosity shown to our student-athletes and programs.
"I would also like to give a special shoutout to our athletic communications team,
Ryan Klinkner '04 and
Jordan Modjeski, and our friends in Institutional Advancement. They are the folks behind the scenes who make the day possible."
After the initial goal of 650 donors was reached just before 5 p.m. Tuesday, stretch goals of 800 and 900 donors were created and eclipsed.
• Of the 928 total donors, 74% were alumni, 19% parents, 9% friends, 4% faculty/staff and 3% students (some were categorized into multiple distinctions).
• 31 matching gifts specific to a sport or organization, as well as two challenges, were made and inspired others to join in support.
• Donors represented 41 of the 50 U.S. states.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this day an overwhelming success!
