June 16, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. –
The University of South Carolina has received one of 18 grants as part of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Grant Program. Approximately $750,000 in grant money was awarded to schools and conferences by the NCAA to foster the growth of women’s basketball on NCAA member campuses and conferences. One of 14 institutions and four conferences awarded funding, South Carolina received a $48,000 grant based on the application submitted by director of marketing events and public relations Dawn Ellerbe.
“We are pleased with the success of many of last year’s grant recipients and are excited to see what these new recipients are able to achieve with this assistance,” said NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Vice President Sue Donohoe. “When resources are allocated and efforts are focused to promote women’s basketball, it can provide a meaningful return on the investment.
A total of 75 member schools and conferences submitted proposals in the second year of the pilot program. National office staff and representatives from the NCAA women’s basketball marketing consultant firm, Hawkeye Sports and Entertainment, evaluated the proposals. The program will be evaluated following its second year to determine if the objectives are being met. Grants are awarded on a one-year basis and are not automatically renewed.
“The selection committee was impressed with the South Carolina proposal and is quite interested in seeing the positive impact of the grant resources and efforts during the upcoming season,” Donohoe said.
In the coming weeks, the South Carolina marketing team will meet with NCAA representatives to discuss the specific details of the Gamecocks’ use of the grant money, which will be focused on expanding the Read with the Gamecocks Program.
“We are truly excited to be able to partner with the NCAA to expand exposure for our women’s basketball while working to increase literacy in the state of South Carolina,” Ellerbe said. “We saw an enormous increase in participation in the Read with the Gamecocks Program last year, and this funding will enable us to further expand our reach and the incentives we offer for elementary school students to participate. We are honored to be among the programs selected and look forward to seeing how this opportunity will assist in the marketing of our women’s basketball program.”
Grants were also issued to Auburn, the Big South Conference, Cornell, East Tennessee State, Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, the Patriot League, San Diego State, UCLA, UC-Riverside, UC-Santa Barbara, Hartford, Kansas, Miami (FL), North Carolina, the West Coast Conference and the Western Athletic Conference.
