Gifts to HWS Student-Athlete Excellence contribute to...
Support the HWS Student-Athlete Excellence Fund and make a direct impact on the success of every HWS student athlete.
During Athletics Day of Donors, your generosity ensures that all Herons and Statesmen have access to the resources they need to perform and thrive, in competition and beyond.
Gifts to the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund directly support:
-
The Fueling Station – Providing nutritious snacks and beverages that fuel performance, enhance recovery and support the daily demands of training and competition for all teams.
-
Sports Medicine – Strengthening injury prevention, treatment and recovery resources across all facilities to keep our student-athletes healthy and ready to compete.
-
Sports Performance – Advancing strength and conditioning programs that build power, speed and resilience, including new technology and updated equipment that benefit athletes at both locations.
Your support strengthens every aspect of the student-athlete experience—from physical health and performance to academic focus and personal growth. Together, as one community, we can provide the foundation our Herons and Statesmen need to succeed in competition, in the classroom and in life.
📣Donor Challenges:
This year, three incredible alumni are powering the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund with exciting donor matches and challenges that make all gifts go further!
🎯 Joe DeSimone, Jr. '89 will give $5,000 to the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund when we reach 50 donors.
🚀 Chip Carver, Jr. '81 has stepped forward with a $13,000 matching gift to the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund.
🏆 Cindy Caird Gitelson L.H.D. ’12 and Stanley Gitelson are honoring the legacy of Cindy's late husband, James F. Caird ’56, L.H.D. ’12 with a $15,000 gift for the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund. Half will be unlocked when we reach 50% of our $700,000 campaign goal, and the remaining $7,500 unlocking when we hit 100% of the goal.
Together, these challenges amplify your impact, fueling opportunities for every HWS student-athlete. Let's see what we can accomplish!
If you have any difficulty making your gift, please contact Wendy Barnhart at (315) 781-3725 or barnhart@hws.edu between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.
*Offline gifts will be counted after the close of the giving day to ensure accuracy. Note that the leaderboard may vary slightly from actual numbers because of this.
ADOD 2026 was one for the record books! Here's a look at how our teams performed throughout the day:
The top three teams who raised the most money:
Hobart: 1) Soccer 2) Lacrosse 3) Basketball
William Smith: 1) Bowling 2) Field Hockey 3) Rowing
The top three teams with the highest number of donors:
Hobart: 1) Lacrosse 2) Soccer 3) Rowing
William Smith: 1) Soccer 2) Rowing 3) Field Hockey
Caird Challenge Winners:
Percent Over Dollar Goal
Hobart: 1) Sailing 2) Cross Country
William Smith: 1) Bowling 2) Volleyball
Best Video
Hobart: 1) Volleyball 2) Football
William Smith: 1) Swimming and Diving 2) Basketball
103 days ago by Madison NolanThanks to the generosity of our incredible HWS Community, Athletics Day of Donors 2026 was a record setting day, and a smashing success!
We are so grateful for the way our alumni, families, fans and friends showed up for our student-athletes over the past 24-hours. Your support makes an immediate impact today, and all year long! Stay tuned for final stats and highlights from the 24-hour challenge.
To close out the day, click below to hear a message from Joe Stein '86, Chair of the Board of Trustees:
103 days ago by Madison Nolan
Our student-athletes are hard at work in the Gilman Room, connecting directly with alumni, families and supporters of their programs. Throughout the day, representatives from each varsity team are sending personal messages and sharing their stories to rally support for what means most to them: their team.
This kind of outreach brings the spirit of HWS Athletics full circle, as student-athletes invite their communities to be part of today’s momentum. If you hear from a student-athlete today, know that your response makes a real and lasting impact.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Cindy Caird Gitelson L.H.D. ’12 and Stanley Gitelson, the Caird Challenge is once again adding extra excitement - and extra impact - to ADOD.
Created in honor of James F. Caird ’56, L.H.D. ’12, this special challenge unlocks bonus funds for Hobart and William Smith teams and the Student-Athlete Excellence Fund – benefitting all of our Herons and Statesmen!
Every gift helps your team climb the leaderboard and brings additional support to HWS student-athletes. Make your gift, back your team and be part of the challenge!
104 days ago by Madison NolanOur ADOD livestream is officially underway! From 1–5 p.m., coaches and student-athletes are joining NCAA broadcaster Ted Baker in the Heron Hall of Honor for exclusive, real-time interviews you won’t want to miss.
Tune in to hear directly from the people at the heart of HWS Athletics as they share what today means to their programs, their goals for the future and how your support makes it all possible.
Watch live right here on our GiveCampus page or on YouTube, and experience the excitement and momentum of Athletics Day of Donors from wherever you are!
104 days ago by Madison NolanThe energy on campus is electric! Our Hype Station is officially underway at the Scandling Center from 12–2 p.m., and the competitive spirit of Athletics Day of Donors is on full display. Students are competing in Minute-to-Win-it style games for a chance to win $100 in snack money – arguably more valuable than gold on a college campus!
We’ve also opened up our Athletics Surplus Sale, giving students and supporters the opportunity to grab official HWS Athletics gear at unbeatable prices. Check out photos from our Hype Station to see the action and feel the energy from campus – wherever you are cheering from today!
🏆Leaderboards
View All Donors