FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU Athletics' signature fundraising event yet again exceeded goals as the 2018 edition of Night at the Nest raised a new record of $601,000 in net income last month, with all proceeds going directly to support the Eagles' scholarship needs and operating budgets.
 
The ninth-annual gala – presented by platinum sponsors Seminole Big Cypress and Brighton Reservations – eclipsed more than half-a-million dollars for the fourth-straight year. The new record total is an outstanding testament to the Eagles' donors and supporters and their continued commitment to FGCU Athletics.
 
Night at the Nest has raised more than $565,000 each of the past four events. In 2014, the gala raised $465,000.
 
In total, it represents a 102-percent increase in just five 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 $3.363 million in support of the Eagles.
 
"Our ninth-annual Night at the Nest was another outstanding example of the tremendous support of FGCU Athletics by the Southwest Florida community," Associate Athletics Director for Advancement Graham Diemer said. "I would like to thank our corporate sponsors 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, and the Eagles Club Board of Advisors" Diemer added. "We were able to maintain the success of the fundraiser because of the continued commitment to make this event a first-class and successful fundraiser."
 
Approximately 300 marquee live- and silent-auction items accounted for nearly 60 percent of the total gross revenue as those items generated a record $412,120. That mark has increased dramatically each of the past few years, up from $344,000 in 2015 to $357,000 in 2016 and $395,000 in 2017.
 
For the fourth-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 $197,400.  Live-auction revenue netted $155,500.
 
In addition to the auction numbers, the gross revenue – which totaled a record $704,170 – came from the following areas:
 
Sponsorship Revenue: $124,000 (up $11,000 from 2017)
Admission Revenue: $105,800 (up $14,000 from 2017)
Donation Revenue: $62,250
 
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 fifth-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," Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh said. "We are so thankful for the continued 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 four of the last five 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 NCAA 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," said 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 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ D-I seasons as a member of the ASUN Conference and Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (women's swimming and diving). Furthermore, in only 7+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships
 
Night at the Nest X is scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2019, in Alico Arena. For additional information, log on to FGCUAthletics.com/NAN.
 
#FEEDFGCU
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.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. 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 collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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