The University of Maryland Terrapin Club announced the establishment of a new major gift recognition program - The Victory Circle on August 5.  The Victory Circle will recognize and steward donors to Maryland Athletics who actively support student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence with a major financial gift.

"The commitment of our donors to supporting student-athletes is vital as we strive to be the very best in collegiate athletics," said Damon Evans, Maryland's Director of Athletics. "The Victory Circle will allow us to accurately show our faithful friends how much we appreciate them while giving us the right tools to cultivate new relationships to further our goals."

Donors are welcomed as members of the Victory Circle through commitments to supporting capital projects, endowments, and program enhancements Membership for an outright or pledged gift in the Victory Circle begins when a gift is made and lasts for five years, which coincides with the average length of a pledged gift. Planned gifts are also recognized through the Victory Circle. In its inaugural year, the Terrapin Club will welcome 119 members to be inducted into the Victory Circle from existing commitments and gifts.

"Our Terrapin Club members support Maryland student-athletes in many ways, and we feel that the Victory Circle gives us a great platform to recognize those donors who provide financial resources to the department above and beyond their annual scholarship gift. We also feel that the Victory Circle will enable us to identify strategies to help foster new support of Maryland Athletics," said Cheryl Harrison, Executive Director of the Terrapin Club.

It is the vision of the Terrapin Club to fully fund the student-athlete experience with philanthropic support. The Terrapin Club serves its donors and student-athletes with pride and works diligently to provide the resources for Maryland student-athletes to perform at the highest level while getting an elite education. To learn more about the Victory Circle, click HERE.