TOP CORNER CLUB — Fordham Prep Lacrosse News and Updates - Launch of The Fordham Prep Lacrosse Endowment

Dear Friends of Fordham Prep Lacrosse,

We are excited to announce the launch of an endowment for the benefit of the Fordham Prep Lacrosse Program, with the goal of building upon our teams’ lofty achievements over the years and to secure the program’s long-term success. Together as a team and a family, we believe we can grow our program to new heights and offer ever greater opportunities to the players and lacrosse families of the future. To that end, your participation is critical.

Since the Prep’s first lacrosse team took the field in 1989, we have achieved an astounding level of success. Fordham Prep Lacrosse has compiled a record of 362 - 168 (68% winning percentage), won 16 championships, scores of Rams have been recognized for All-League honors, 27 honored as All-Americans, and more than 60 of our players have gone on to play in the college ranks. Looking back at the pictures of those first players in 1989, with their mismatched gear on the rough, uneven field behind the Prep before the days of the Leonard Theater, it is hard to imagine we would have ever come this far. But our achievements are a testament to the hard work and resilience of our players, the dedication of our coaches, and the support and commitment of the teams’ families and friends. We call upon those traits once again to continue these traditions and launch the program toward an ambitious future.

The Fordham Prep Lacrosse Endowment will establish a long-term financial resource to support the program. Donations to the fund from supporters of Fordham Prep Lacrosse will be invested for long-term appreciation, annually distributing program funding values at 4% of the endowment to the benefit of that year’s athletes. This financial resource can benefit the team in many ways including, among others, investments in player development through skills training and additional coaching resources, enhancing the team’s competitiveness through subsidies for team travel to more high-profile national tournaments, and outreach programs intended to enhance the visibility of Fordham Prep lacrosse among the local community and with college coaches around the country.

Will you stand with us as we endeavor to bring this vision to reality?

The lofty but achievable goal of raising $100,000 is needed in order to found the endowment under the Prep’s Development umbrella. Thanks to the generosity of many of you, the funds raised at our recent golf outing honoring lacrosse parent Dan Reilly P’19 have contributed more than 10% towards this goal.

In just its fifth season, the 1993 Fordham Prep lacrosse team embarked on one of the program’s most historic seasons, finishing 19 - 0 and winning the Prep’s first lacrosse championship. That team was made up of a remarkable group of young men committed to the team and their teammates, who overcame many obstacles to becoming that rarity – an undefeated champion. They were the first champions of Fordham Prep Lacrosse, but not the last. True to their commitment to Fordham Prep Lacrosse, members of the 1993 team have pledged to match the first $20,000 of donations to the Fordham Prep Lacrosse Endowment. Their pledge, combined with your match and funds already raised, will get the Endowment halfway funded in the first year of existence. We need you to join the ‘93 Team in the forging of future Prep champions.

Thank you for your continued support of Fordham Prep Lacrosse. It has allowed us to already achieve tremendous success.

In order to donate and see more information on the endowment, please go to fordhamprep.org/laxfund. If you would like to speak further about the endowment and its structure, the Lacrosse Program in general, or if you are considering making a pledge or matching gift, please contact us at fptopcornerclub@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

The Fordham Prep Top Corner Club Board

Damien McGough ‘95, Paul Olivo ‘94, Mark Powers ‘02, Chris Smith ‘11, James Werner ‘14