Coach Dayn DeRose has identified 4 priorities which are currently underfunded:
1. Recruitment: involves Dayn traveling to national fencing tournaments, called NACs. These are 3-4 day events with fencers from all over the country. These recruiting trips are expected to cost approximately $2,000 each.
2. Team Travel: Dayn wants to take the team to more tournaments for more experience and exposure. This is dependent on recruitment, as there is no reason to take a team which is unable to effectively compete. Cost depends on where the tournament is and how many fencers participate.
3. Individual Equipment: quality bodycords and blades are the priority. $35-45 for a bodycord, $25-60 for blades (depending on the weapon). Jackets, Lames, Masks, and Pants are also options if necessary but hopefully with more recruiting, students will have their own.
4. Team Equipment: 2 more reels and machines, 2 metal strips. $2,500 per machine and per strip.
Two options for giving.
Option 1: there is an endowment for fencing budget relief. This is a fund whose principle remains untouched but the interest which is generated (approximately 5% per year) replaces dollars surrendered by the Athletics Department due to budget cuts. Anything added to the endowment provides discretionary spending for the coach’s use.
Option 2: a pay down or restricted fund, to be used by the coach until it is exhausted. The advantage is whatever you give has an immediate impact.
We recently received a very generous donation of $10,000 from an alumnus towards the endowment to get it started. However, as that only yields 5% ($500 per year) we have a long way to go.
Suggested Giving Levels
- $10,000 – match the gift recently donated and put us on the way to a sustainable endowment
- $2,500 – a recruiting trip to a NAC
- $1,000 – a strip ready fencer
- $500 – equips the team with blades
- $100 – 5 sabre blades
- $60 – fully wired epee/foil blade
- $25 – a sabre blade
Any amount you donate makes a big impact – because donations of any size show the administration that alumni care, providing a greater voice when we advocate for the team.
We recommend, and only recommend, that if you are able to give $1,000 or more, you donate it to the endowment for the long term benefit of the team; anything else could be donated to the pay down or restricted fund so the team can get the most immediate impact from your gift. But it is your gift to the University so it is entirely up to you how you want the team to use the money.
The Athletic department’s fiscal year ends June 30, so if you can get your donation in by then, especially to the endowment, the funds will be fully available to Dayn for next year’s team!!
Please contact David Terdiman C’89, director of Athletics Advancement at Drew, at (973) 408-3899 or dterdima@drew.edu. Let him know how much you would like to donate and if you prefer to support the endowment or the pay down fund. As well, share your interest with David about participating in a Fencing alumni association.
You may also visit drew.edu/makeagift to donate online. In the comments section of the form, indicate whether your donation is for the Fencing Restricted Fund or the Fencing Endowment.
Remember that corporate matching gifts help to stretch donations and may be available to you or your spouse/partner. Check with your (or your spouse’s) HR office to see if any such program is available.
If you have any questions about any of this, the alumni association, the funds, the goal for the head coach position, or anything else, please feel free to contact Dayn at daynd@aol.com or me at richardafrank@gmail.com. I might be slow in responding as I am beginning a 6-7 month journey in Africa on Feb 28, but will get back to you as best I can.
Thank you for your consideration, generosity, and enthusiasm for Drew Fencing!