Kelly/Kraft Forever Flyers Challenge Final Results

Romeoville, Ill .- Competition often brings out the best in Lewis University student-athletes, and evidenced by the results of the first Kelly/Kraft Forever Flyers Challenge, it was a fight to the finish for the combined $10,000 prize donation by former Flyers Clifton (Clif) Kelly '78 and Lester (Les) Kraft '55.

The challenge was a six-week competition, lasting from March 21st to May 2nd, led by student-athletes to increase alumni giving participation and support. The $10,000 is divided between the first and second place finishers in two categories: the athletic program that generates the greatest percentage of giving participation from its alumni and the program that generates the greatest total number of alumni contributors.

In all, $28,247 was raised during the challenge, including the title gifts from both Kelly and Kraft. The percentage of alumni giving increased from 6.2% to 14.1% with 417 former Lewis student-athletes participating.

"The first year of the Kelly/Kraft Forever Flyers Challenge was an overwhelming success," Associate Director of Athletics Brian Summers said. "We achieved our goals of doubling the giving rate of our athletics alumni, connecting with new and older alumni, and providing assistance to our athletics programs.

"The generous donations from all of our participating alumni will have a tangible impact on our programs."

The Lewis men's basketball team was the big winner as it collected prizes from both the highest percentage of alumni gifts (24.8%) and total donors (58). The Flyers, led by head coach Scott Trost, will collect a total of $5,000 for finishing in first for the highest percentage ($3,500) and second in total donors ($1,500). 

"This was a great initiative set up by Brian Summers and our Development office," Trost said. "It allowed us to reconnect with our alums and get many of them involved again with Lewis Athletics.

"Our players made a sincere commitment to engage our alums and we will use this money to help finance a foreign trip next summer," Trost continued. "We are very thankful for the support of our alumni and look forward to the competition again next year."

The baseball team had the most donors as 91 former alumni participated in the challenge, helping head coach Tim McDonough and his program to the $3,500 first-place award.

“The team and myself are so grateful to all of the alumni who supported the Forever Flyers Challenge," McDonough said. "Baseball has always been a tight knit group here at Lewis going back to Coach Gordie Gillespie, Tom Dedin and more recently, Irish O'Reilly.

"You really saw that brotherhood illustrated with the fundraising efforts of the Challenge,” McDonough continued. "The money that was brought in will directly benefit the current and future players to provide them with the tools and resources needed to improve as baseball players on a daily basis.”
 
“Special thanks to Les Kraft and Clif Kelly for their support of this endeavor and for their service to the Lewis University community.”

The men's volleyball program finished in second place for the highest percentage of alumni participants, as 23.0% of their alumni contributed. Lewis head men's volleyball coach Dan Friend and his program take home the second place prize money of $1,500.