Virginia Union University Athletics

The Panther Lettermen's Club Mission 
 
The Panther Lettermen's Club is Virginia Union's fundraising organization for athletics. Organized in 2022 by a group of friends and alumni, it was created to provide a place for former sport specific student-athletes and athletic supporters from VUU to support the athletics program at the university. It evolved into the present-day Panther Lettermen's Club which combines all former student-athletes, athletic supporters, cheerleaders and band members into collective group designed to power Panther Athletics forward while increasing the percentage of alumni contributions back to the institution. The need for this new structure became apparent when the institutions' other athletic fundraising entity, The Panther Booster Club, became dormant and has since grown into an organization that continues to function in support of athletics.  

Annual giving to the Panther Lettermen's Club bridges the operations and scholarship funding gap that allows Panther athletics to fund a successful and broad-based program. One of the major goals of Athletics endowed scholarships will ultimately provide a valuable foundation for future scholarship support at VUU, but annual contributions address the growing divide between the operating income and actual expenses it costs to run a successful intercollegiate athletics program. 
Nationally, the cost of education has risen exponentially, and the role of VUU athletics has been to enhance the brand of Virginia Union University while creating new revenue sources for the university to utilize. The need for additional funding through gifts to the Panther Lettermen's Club is essential for Panther athletics to maintain its 15-sport program. Support is critical to the future of VUU athletics and Panther student-athletes.  

VUU has always been a leader in athletics branding and fundraising among its CIAA Conference peers. The leadership role within the CIAA Conference is defined through the generosity of Panther supporters and by excellence shown on the field and in the classroom. The primary goals of the Panther Lettermen's Club are to continue to promote growth in membership as well as increased dollars in the coming year. 

For more information about joining the Panther Lettermen's Club, contact Ralph Brown via email at rebrown@vuu.edu or by phone (804) 257-5752  
 
Panther Lettermen's Club Membership 

Joining the Panther Lettermen's Club is as easy as making a gift to support our student-athletes. There are multiple ways to get involved with the Panther Lettermen's Club: 

• Make an online gift to the Panther Lettermen's Club.  
• Join the Goal Line Club and make a pledge per touchdown. 
• Become a sponsor or donate to the annual VUU Athletics Hall of Fame Event  
• Become an Athletic  sponsor  
• Make an endowed or planned gift to benefit Panther Athletics.  

Panther Lettermen's Club Benefits & Giving Levels 
  The CIRCLE OF CHAMPIONS is the premier giving group of the Panther Lettermen's Club. Donors who make annual contributions of $5,000, $10,000, $25,000 or $50,000 to athletics or have made cumulative gifts of $1 million or more exclusively designated for annual, endowment and capital purposes are members of the Circle of Champions. Donors may make a four-year pledge at any of these levels. 
 
Under the Circle of Champions there are 5 distinct levels based on levels of giving: 
 
Founder's Fellow ($100,000 +) 

Steel Circle ($50,000 - $99,999) 

Maroon Circle ($25,000 - $49,999)

Lombardy Circle ($10,000 - $24,999) 

Legend's Circle ($5,000- $9,999) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Invitation to events hosted by the Office of the President 
• Invitation to the hospitality areas at football and basketball venues 
• Priority Parking at home football and basketball games 
• Eligible for 2 seats in Hospitality Area at Hovey Field  
• Eligible for 4 season tickets in VIP Area at home basketball games at Barco-Stevens Hall 
• Eligible upon request for a "named" parking spot within the Legend's Circle Parking Lot 
• Car Decal  

Collegiate Circle ($2,500 - $4,999)  

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Eligible for Football Priority Parking Pass in (additional $20 fee) 
• Eligible for 2 seats in Hospitality Area at Hovey Field  
• Eligible for 2 season tickets in VIP Area at home basketball games at Barco-Stevens Hall 
• Car Decal  

President's Circle ($1,500 - $2,499) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Eligible for Football Priority Parking Pass 
• Eligible for Hospitality Area at home basketball games 
• Car Decal 
• Young alumni may join the President's Circle at a discounted rate and receive President's Circle benefits: 
  • $500 annually (Graduates of the last 0 – 5 years) 
  • $1000 annually (Graduates of the last 6 – 10 years) 

Pacesetter ($1,000 - $1,499) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Eligible for Football Priority Parking Pass for all home football games  
• Car Decal  

Patron ($500 - $999) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Eligible for Football Priority Parking Pass for home football games -  (additional $20 fee) 
• Car Decal 

Ambassador ($250 - $499) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Eligible for Football Priority Parking Pass for home football games -  
• Car Decal 

Partner ($1 - $249) 

• Invitation to Panther Lettermen's Club-sponsored events 
• Car Decal 

Gifts to the Panther Lettermen's Club can be made by calling the Athletic Department Office at 804.257-5752 or by giving online at VUUsports.com 

• New VUU Wellness Center  
• Field Turf Installation