On March 3, 2026, Western Colorado University Athletics will rally together for one powerful day of giving — Mountaineer Gives Day. This year, 10 varsity NCAA programs are uniting around a shared goal: strengthening the student-athlete experience and investing in what matters most - our students.

For 24 hours, supporters will have a unique opportunity to see every participating team fundraising in one place, on one day, for the future of Mountaineer Athletics.

The teams participating this year include:

• Men's Basketball
• Women's Basketball
• Cross Country
• Football
• Women's Soccer
• Women's Swimming
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
• Men's Wrestling
• Women's Wrestling

Each program has distinct needs, but they share one common purpose: creating opportunity for student-athletes to compete, graduate, and lead.

Some teams are raising scholarship support to ensure talented student-athletes can afford a Western education. Others are focused on upgrading equipment, purchasing new uniforms, enhancing training resources, or offsetting travel costs to tournaments, matches, and championship competition. Every dollar raised goes toward the areas of greatest need within each program, directly impacting the daily experience of Western's student-athletes.

And those students are at the heart of it all.

Our Mountaineer student-athletes train before sunrise, embrace the Gunnison-cold, represent Western across the RMAC and beyond, and carry the pride of this university wherever they compete. They are leaders in the classroom, in the community, and in their respective sports. Their commitment to excellence is matched only by their dedication to earning a degree and preparing for life beyond competition.

As one men's wrestling student-athlete shared,
"Receiving a scholarship to wrestle means a lot to me because it has provided me with the funds to continue to do the sport that I love, as well as prepare myself for life after wrestling by getting a degree and the skills that I need to be successful. A scholarship allows me to give my best both on the mat and in the classroom."

That is the power of philanthropy in action. A gift on Mountaineer Gives Day is not simply a donation - it is a vote of confidence in a student's potential.

Western Athletics is built on grit, resilience, and a deep sense of community. Our student-athletes choose Western not only to compete at a high level, but because this is a place that feels like home. The support of alumni, families, and friends strengthens that foundation and ensures that future Mountaineers have access to the same life-changing opportunities.

On March 3, you can stand behind the teams that represent Western with pride. Explore all nine programs in one place, choose the team that means the most to you, and help fuel the next season of growth and success.

Join us for Mountaineer Gives Day and invest in the future of Western student-athletes, visit this link to learn more and to donate: https://www.classy.org/campaign/mountaineer-gives-day-2026/c736470