Bears Club
Bears Club support is essential to position our student-athletes to compete on the field, in the classroom and prepare them for success in life.
The Bears Club is the official fundraising arm of Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics. Since 1946, the Bears Club has provided financial support to enhance the student-athlete experience, provide athletic scholarship support and fund capital improvement projects.
More than 1,000 alumni, numerous corporations, parents and friends are members of the Bears Club, and as members, they collectively provide crucial support to each of the university's 23 intercollegiate teams.
Ways of Giving
Your generosity helps support student-athletes and to continue to grow the rich history and tradition of Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics.
- Checks - Make checks payable to Lenoir-Rhyne Bears Club.
- By Phone - Payment information can be provided over the phone by calling the office at Martha Wrike at 828.328.7007 or Justin Hay at 828.328.7172.
- Monthly Credit Card Deductions - Your gift can be paid through scheduled monthly credit card payments. Indicate your interest in scheduled monthly payments on the online giving form.
- LR Faculty and Staff Payroll Deduction - Contact Donna Bowman in the Payroll Office at donna.bowman@lr.edu or 828.328.7185.
- Pledges - Gifts over multiple years are accepted by the Bears Club. Donors can pledge their support to certain sport, capital project or scholarship fund by contact Andy Anderson at 828.328.7167.
Bears Club support for athletic scholarships has helped me and every other student-athlete on this campus.
Tax Benefits
- Each gift to the Bears Club may be eligible for tax deduction based on goods and services received.
- Please consult a tax professional about determining your tax deduction.
- Donors have the option to waive all benefits and have their gift be 100% tax-deductible
Member Benefits
Bears Club members take pride and satisfaction in helping to provide a quality education for men and women who have chosen to attend and compete at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
| 0 | Membership Benefit | Legacy Bear $5,000+ | Piedmont Bear $2,500 - $4,999 | Mountain Bear $1,750 - $2,499 | Big Bear $1,250 - $1,749 | Bear $950-$1,249 | Bear Booster $350 - $949 | Bear Friend $50 - $299 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Support education of LR student-athletes | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 2 | Car decal | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 3 | LR Athletics email updates | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 4 | Invitation to Bears Club events | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 5 | Bears Cub Club membership for children 12 and under | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| 6 | Access to basketball and volleyball chair back seats (as available) | x | x | x | x | |||
| 7 | Gold Lot football parking pass on practice field | x | x | x | ||||
| 8 | Basketball general admission season tickets Club membership for children 12 and under* | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 9 | Complimentary football and basketball hospitality | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 10 | Football season tickets in Black Level reserved seats | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |||
| 11 | Football season tickets in Red Level reserved seats | 4 | 2 | |||||
| 12 | General admission football tickets | 4 | 4 | |||||
| 13 | Silver Lot football parking/Bronze Level parking | x | x | x | ||||
| 14 | Opportunity to purchase reserved parking in Gold Lot | x | x | x | ||||
| 15 | Bears Club Christmas gift | x | x | x | ||||
| 16 | LRU President's Society membership | x | x | x | ||||
| 17 | Invitation for two to the President's Box (upon request and availability) | x | x | |||||
| 18 | Sideline pass for home football games (upon request) | x | x | |||||
| 19 | Dinner with the AD/Head Coach of your choice | x | ||||||
| 20 | Total fair market value of benefits (for tax purposes) | $740 | $740 | $740 | $490 | $320 | $250 |
*Bear Cub Club membership includes a free Cub Club t-shirt that provides free admission to regular-season home athletic events when worn.
**Donors wishing to designate their contribution toward a sport will not receive the benefits of tickets.
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2023-24 Bears Club Officers
- Ingrid Smith, President
- Rhett Durham, Vice President of Membership
- Leslie Kenworthy, Vice President of Events
- Bob Fincher, Immediate Past President
- Justin Hay, Director of the Bears Club
- Shayna Skonieczki, Assistant Director of the Bears Club
- Martha Wrike, Special Events Coordinator
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Bears Club Council
Dr. Fred Whitt - President
Kim Pate - Vice President of Athletics- Jim Andrews
- Perrell Bess
- Daniel Brittain
- Ben Bundy
- Terry Collins
- Thomas Deal
- Stephanie Delgado
- Jamie Dickinson
- Rhett Durham
- Marvin Everett
- Bob Fincher
- Noah Geoghegan
- Maya Grady
- Billy Hilton
- Sam Holtsclaw
- Leslie Kenworthy
- Jeremy Krech
- Becky Laney
- Buster Mann
- Roger Maxey
- Brad McNeely
- Tim Moody
- John Moretz
- Steve Mull
- Holly Penland
- Dave Robertson
- Ingrid Smith
- Les Stewart
- Jameil Surratt
- Marcellena Teague
- Matt Winters
- JP Gunter
- Sandra Reid
- Cat Jacomine
- Duncan McMillian
Honorary Life Members
- Walter Cornwell '57
- Vernon Hedrick '56
- Thad Lineberger '60
- Marcus Midgett '62
- Bob Miller '58
- Wilbert Seabock '50
- Charles Snipes '58