FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU Athletics' signature fundraising event again exceeded goals as the 2017 edition of Night at the Nest raised a near-record $575,000 in net income last month, with all proceeds going directly to support the Eagles' scholarship needs and operating budgets.
 
The 8th-annual gala – presented by platinum sponsors Seminole Big Cypress and Brighton Reservations – eclipsed more than half-a-million dollars for the third-straight year. The total is nearly identical to the record $577,000 raised in 2016, but is an outstanding testament to the Eagles' donors and supporters considering the impact Hurricane Irma had on Southwest Florida just months before the gala.
 
Night at the Nest has raised more than $565,000 each of the past three events. In 2014, the gala raised $465,000.
 
In total, it represents a 95-percent increase in just four years from a then-record $295,000 generated during the 2013 event, and an incredible eight-year progression from just $33,000 that was produced in the inaugural 2010 gala. All totaled, the Night at the Nests have collectively netted $2.762 million in support of the Eagles.
 
"The 8th-annual edition of the Night at the Nest was another outstanding example of the tremendous support of FGCU Athletics by the Southwest Florida community," said Graham Diemer, Associate Athletics Director for Advancement. "I would like to thank our corporate sponsors – especially the Big Cypress and Brighton Seminole Reservations – all of the attendees and bidders, coaches, student-athletes, staff and volunteers for their unwavering commitment to improve the gala each year.
 
"I would like to make special mention of our chairman, Dr. Bob 'Doc' Ryan," Diemer added. "We dealt with some adversity and changes this year, and were able to maintain the success of the fundraiser because of the continued commitment to make this event into a first-class and ultra-successful fundraiser."
 
Approximately 350 marquee live- and silent-auction items accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total gross revenue as those items generated a record $395,000 – a 10-percent increase from the $357,000 created in 2016 and a 15-percent increase from the $344,000 raised in 2015.
 
For the third-straight year, those not in attendance had an opportunity to bid on auction items remotely, which helped add to the silent-auction revenue that netted $204,732. Live-auction revenue netted $154,178.
 
In addition to the auction numbers, the gross revenue – which totaled a record $667,000 – came from the following areas:
 
Sponsorship Revenue: $113,000
Admission Revenue: $91,800
Donation Revenue: $67,400
 
The semi-formal event featured a cocktail reception, dinner and live and silent auctions. FGCU coaches and staff were in attendance, and student-athletes were the servers for the dinner. One-hundred percent of the net revenue went to augment and establish scholarships for current and future FGCU student-athletes.
 
Notable dignitaries in attendance included FGCU President Dr. Mike Martin, and current Milwaukee Brewers pitcher and FGCU baseball product Jacob Barnes. Lois Thome – a 25-year veteran as the co-anchor of WINK News' 5, 6 and 7 p.m. broadcasts – served as the emcee, with Jay Severson being the auctioneer for the fourth-straight year.
 
"We are obviously again thrilled with the overall net results from this wonderful evening. In turn, it continues as one of the signature highlights of our Green and Blue year from both cultivating friends and extremely important additional external resources standpoints," stated Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "We are so thankful for the outstanding leadership provided by our phenomenal chair Doc Ryan and so many others who collectively combined for such an awesome outcome. We certainly also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the numerous item donors and bidders whose contributions are the backbone of all our efforts."
 
Night at the Nest has grown each year from 300 attendees in its inaugural 2010 showing to 680 in 2013 before being sold out in three of the last four years. Due primarily to the generosity of companies and individuals from Southwest Florida, fundraising has grown exponentially each year to help support each of FGCU's 15 Division-I teams. The Eagles currently have eight sports at the NCAA maximum allowable athletic financial aid limits.
 
"The successful event that we had this year would not have been made possible without the generosity of the local community. It has been exciting to see the non-FGCU alumni 'adopt' the Eagles as their team," commented Ryan, who serves in the chief volunteer role of Assistant to the AD for Special Events. "The profits from this year's event will again reward several student-athletes with a scholarship that had not been available before. Our ultimate goal is for each of our teams to have the funding available for the maximum number of scholarships that the NCAA allows."
 
The evening is also a celebration of all the accomplishments of FGCU Athletics' student-athletes and coaches. FGCU has won a combined 65 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 10+ D-I seasons as a member of the ASUN Conference and Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (women's swimming and diving). Furthermore, in only 6+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, FGCU has sent 21 teams to the NCAA Tournament, while men's golf, men's tennis, and swimming and diving have had an individual(s) participate in their respective NCAA Championship, bringing the total NCAA appearances for FGCU to 31.
 
Night at the Nest IX is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, in Alico Arena. For additional information, log on to FGCUAthletics.com/NAN.
 
ABOUT FGCU
Seven programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also claimed the ASUN All-Sports Trophy for the third-straight year and fourth time in five years in 2016-17, in addition to collectively earning a 3.27 GPA in the classroom and serving an all-time high 7,200+ volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural Fiesta Bowl Community Service Award.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Ticket information for upcoming events is available by logging on to FGCUTickets.com or by calling 239-590-7145. Additional news and schedule information is available at FGCUAthletics.com. Follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEagles), Facebook (/FGCUAthletics), Instagram (@FGCUAthletics) and YouTube (/FGCUAthletics).
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.