The Yosef Club, Appalachian State University athletics' fundraising arm, enjoyed its seventh-straight record year in 2011-12, raising $2,720,012 in the fiscal year that ended on June 30.

Despite the ongoing difficult economic climate, Yosef Club donations were up 8.7 percent over the previous record of $2,502,351 raised in 2010-11. The 8.7-percent year-over-year increase is the largest since Yosef Club donations skyrocketed 66.7 percent in 2007-08, the year that Appalachian football collected its historic win over Michigan and won its third-straight national championship. The Yosef Club has set fundraising records each year since 2005-06. 

When major gifts, planned commitments and other gifts are taken into account, financial commitments to Appalachian athletics totaled $5,370,423 for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

“Despite being in tough economic times, Appalachian State faithful continue to support our student-athletes in incredible ways,” senior associate athletics director for development Rick Beasley said. “Very few programs in all of college athletics, especially those outside of the five or six major conferences, are fortunate to have the outstanding support that we have at Appalachian State. We thank our supporters for making the Championship Investment and giving our student-athletes the opportunity to achieve great success on and off the field.”

The Yosef Club provides scholarship support to Appalachian State's 450-plus student-athletes. Its fundraising efforts are headed by longtime Yosef Club director Gerald Adams and the Appalachian athletics development staff.

“I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the ASU athletics development staff and dozens of Yosef Club volunteers across the Southeast that continue to work tirelessly to achieve record fundraising levels every year,” Beasley said. “They give their all for Appalachian State and our student-athletes every day.”

 

Yosef Club donations (2004-present)

2004-05: $664,500

2005-06: $1,042,704

2006-07: $1,376,441

2007-08: $2,295,010

2008-09: $2,424,620

2009-10: $2,500,075

2010-11: $2,502,351

2011-12: $2,720,012