July 26, 2012

BALTIMORE, MD - Blue Jays Unlimited, the official booster club and fundraising arm of Johns Hopkins Athletics, has announced that the Johns Hopkins volleyball and baseball teams are the winners of the inaugural "Forever a Blue Jay Challenge". The volleyball team led the way in the "percentage increase in dollars" category with a stunning 867.58 percent increase in giving. The baseball team hit a home run in the "alumni giving percentage" category as 31.83% of baseball alumni donated to the program. Both teams have won the $5,000 top prize and bragging rights for the next year.

"The Challenge has been extremely successful," said Athletic Director Tom Calder. "I am very proud that the friends and alumni of our athletic program are enthusiastic about donating to their sports teams through the "Forever a Blue Jay Challenge". It is great to see that our athletic family is passionate about the Blue Jays."

For more information on the Forever a Blue Jay Challenge, please visit the Forever A Blue Jay Challenge page.

The Blue Jay volleyball team saw an increase of more than 800% in giving.

Information about the Challenge: The Challenge was structured in such a way that all 24 Johns Hopkins varsity programs opposed each other in annual giving competition, starting with gifts received on July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. All gifts of $25 or more were counted in the challenge. In addition to an expected increase in the number of donors and amount raised by each team, the competition resulted in two (2) programs earning additional revenue based on the following criteria:

• Highest percentage increase in dollars from 2010-11 to 2011-12 • Highest alumni giving percentage from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 The winning teams in each of the two categories will receive a $5,000 gift to their programs.

To speak with someone in Blue Jays Unlimited about making a donation or for more information, contact BJU at 410/516-6132 or bju@jhu.edu.

Blue Jays Unlimited: Blue Jays Unlimited is the official booster club organization for Johns Hopkins Athletics. BJU provides fundraising support for the 24 varsity sports at JHU. Gifts to BJU are used to enhance the Hopkins experience for all student-athletes while promoting excellence in the University's athletic program. Since its establishment in 1995, BJU has raised over $6 million in gifts.

Final Standings in Alumni Giving
1. Baseball - 31.83%
2. Wrestling - 23.56%
3. Men's Lacrosse - 23.15%
4. Women's Soccer - 19.53%
5. Women's Basketball - 18.18%

Final Standings in Dollars
1. Volleyball - 867.58%
2. Water Polo - 266.48%
3. Wrestling - 215.12%
4. Fencing - 214.73%
5. Field Hockey - 196.41%