HWS News
26 February 2026 • Athletics A Record-Setting Day for HWS Athletics
Athletics Day of Donors raises an unprecedented $1.3 million, marking the most successful 24-hour giving challenge in program history.
This year’s 24-hour giving challenge became the most successful in the history of Hobart and William Smith Athletics. Alumni, families, friends and fans came together to raise an unprecedented $1,329,044 from 3,612 donors, demonstrating the extraordinary impact of a community united in support of its student-athletes.
That momentum generated record-setting results across programs. For Hobart, Soccer led with $185,218 raised, followed by Lacrosse with $137,133 and Basketball with $93,176. William Smith saw equally impressive support, with Bowling finishing first at $104,075, followed by Field Hockey and Rowing, which raised $61,964 and $44,101, respectively.
The return of the Caird Challenge once again amplified the day’s success. Cindy Caird Gitelson L.H.D. ’12 and Stanley Gitelson honored the legacy of James F. Caird ’56, L.H.D.’12 with a $25,000 gift. Of that total, $15,000 strengthened the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund—supporting Sports Performance, Strength and Conditioning, and the HWS Fuel Station. The remaining $10,000 rewarded the teams that most exceeded their goals, with this year’s honors awarded to Hobart Sailing, Hobart Cross Country, William Smith Bowling and William Smith Volleyball.
In another defining moment, the community’s collective generosity unlocked an extraordinary $50,000 commitment from Honorary Trustee Thomas B. Poole '61, P'91, L.H.D. '06 to the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund. This milestone not only expanded critical support for student-athletes but also helped make this the most successful Athletics Day of Donors in the history of HWS Athletics.
“The past 24 hours were a powerful reminder of what makes the Hobart and William Smith community so special,” says Brian Miller, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We are deeply grateful to every donor who stepped forward to invest in our student-athletes. Your generosity strengthens our programs and ensures a bright future for HWS Athletics.”
“This year’s Athletics Day of Donors was transformational. When more than 3,600 members of our community unite behind a shared purpose, it sends a powerful message to our student-athletes and coaches: we believe in you, we support you and we are committed to investing in your success,” says Morgan Ewert, Director of Development for Athletics.
Student-athletes themselves played a pivotal role, leading personalized outreach efforts that inspired donors to support their programs. Top student-athlete advocates were recognized for their leadership, with first-place recipients earning AirPods and second-place recipients receiving portable speakers. This year’s top advocates were Bauer Morrissey ’27, Lily Wittgraefe ’29, Elijah Goldman ’26 and Mae Kellersman ’27.
Complete results and a full breakdown of the impact from Athletics Day of Donors 2026 are available here.
Top: Nathan Deller' 27 interviews Emily Cain '27 during Athletics Day of Donors.
