SIRFC Alumni Celebrate a Record-Breaking Tailgate and Fundraising Success!

The weekend of November 1st was an unforgettable one for the SIRFC Alumni, combining camaraderie, rugby excitement, and incredible generosity. Before the New Zealand vs. Ireland match at Soldier Field in Chicago, we hosted a lively tailgate party that brought together alumni from near and far. While the event was primarily about community and fun, we were thrilled to raise approximately $2,750 during the festivities!

Even more impressive was the conclusion of our With You fundraising campaign, which ran through November 1. The campaign’s goal was to raise $10,000 so that an anonymous donor could match that amount—doubling the impact. Leading up to the campaign’s conclusion, alumni and supporters had already raised nearly $18,000. With the $10,000 match and an additional anonymous donor stepping in to ensure we hit the goal, the campaign raised almost $28,000!

The campaign featured a raffle to reward supporters: one drawing for every $500 donated and another for every $250 donated. At the tailgate, we were excited to announce the winners:

• $500 raffle winners: Chris Eames and Andrew Perlmutter

• $250 raffle winners: Darcie Hastings and Dave Hanetho

When combining the With You campaign and the tailgate fundraising, the alumni community collectively raised around $30,000—far exceeding our goal and keeping us on track to fully support the 2-year Sports Management Scholarship at $20,000 per year.

We are deeply grateful to all alumni, donors, and supporters who contributed their time, energy, and generosity. Your support ensures that SIRFC continues to thrive both on and off the pitch. Here’s to keeping the momentum going and making an even bigger impact in the years ahead!