Five Donors Join 1856 Society Ranks To Help Fuel Athletics’ Record Fundraising Year
7/21/2026 10:32:00 AM | Football, Terrapin Club
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Eric and Joelle Drenner, Bob Stacy, and Mike and Mary Strittmatter each made six-figure gifts at the end of the University of Maryland's fiscal year this past month to join the 1856 Society and help propel Maryland Athletics to its record-breaking fundraising efforts.
This past year Maryland Athletics secured more than $43.7M in total commitments, surpassing the previous record from FY15, and received gifts from 10,000-plus unique donors, marking the first time in department history the donor count has reached five figures.
Also in the 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of 18 Athletics donors joined the ranks of the University of Maryland's 1856 Society, which is a community of donors whose transformational gifts to Maryland have reached $1 million or more, or a planned gift of $5 million or more. This more than doubles the previous year's number of new Athletics donors in the1856 Society and pushes the total number of 1856 Society Athletics donors to 111.
Eric '95 and Joelle '95 Drenner are longtime Athletics supporters and season-ticket members. Their son, Mason, graduated from Maryland in 2021 with a degree in information studies. Eric, who earned a degree in landscape architecture, is the co-founder and partner at E-Landscape Specialty Solutions, while Joelle graduated with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Their recent contribution supports the Director of Athletics Fund while their past generosity has largely focused on student-athlete scholarships.
Bob '75 has been a Men's Basketball season-ticket member for decades and supports a wide range of Athletics priorities. In 2023 he established the Robert C. Stacy Endowed Scholarship for Intercollegiate Athletics, which provides merit-based scholarships for undergraduate student-athletes with a preference on Men's Basketball student-athletes. His recent gift is directed toward the Impact Fund and the endowed scholarship in his name. Bob, who earned his master's in library and information services from Maryland, worked for the Department of Defense for 33 years and retired in 2008. Then in January 2026 he again retired from his second career after working part-time for 12 years as a trainer for the National Institute of Transition Planning, Inc. Bob says he is pleased to 'give back' to the university that provided a superb education and hopes others will follow his lead, and Go Terps!
Mike '85 played football for the Terps and earned a degree in marketing from Maryland and Mary '84 graduated from Maryland with a degree in general studies. Mike is the 11th Maryland Athletics letterwinner to join the 1856 Society and the third football letterwinner. The Strittmatters' recent gift supported the Director of Athletics Fund and their generosity has included the football program, scholarships, and more. In 2024 they established the Strittmatter Family Endowed Discretionary Fund for Intercollege Athletics to provide unrestricted support to the athletics department. He recently received the Kevin Glover Alumni Impact Award, given annually to a Maryland letterwinner who has given to and helped the football program. He currently serves as the President of Strittmatter Companies.
Our campaign for the Fearless
Philanthropic gifts to Athletics support Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, a $2.5 billion fundraising initiative in support of expanding access to UMD's top-tier education, accelerating groundbreaking research and building stronger communities. Maryland Athletics aims to raise at least $350M as part of the Forward campaign, elevating priorities that fit into four fundraising objectives: Elevate a championship culture; empower young people to realize their full potential; mold tomorrow's leaders today; and foster success through community. Those interested in learning more about how they can participate in the Forward campaign are encouraged to click HERE or contact the Terrapin Club at 301-314-7020 or tclub@umd.edu.
This past year Maryland Athletics secured more than $43.7M in total commitments, surpassing the previous record from FY15, and received gifts from 10,000-plus unique donors, marking the first time in department history the donor count has reached five figures.
Also in the 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of 18 Athletics donors joined the ranks of the University of Maryland's 1856 Society, which is a community of donors whose transformational gifts to Maryland have reached $1 million or more, or a planned gift of $5 million or more. This more than doubles the previous year's number of new Athletics donors in the1856 Society and pushes the total number of 1856 Society Athletics donors to 111.
Eric '95 and Joelle '95 Drenner are longtime Athletics supporters and season-ticket members. Their son, Mason, graduated from Maryland in 2021 with a degree in information studies. Eric, who earned a degree in landscape architecture, is the co-founder and partner at E-Landscape Specialty Solutions, while Joelle graduated with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Their recent contribution supports the Director of Athletics Fund while their past generosity has largely focused on student-athlete scholarships.
Bob '75 has been a Men's Basketball season-ticket member for decades and supports a wide range of Athletics priorities. In 2023 he established the Robert C. Stacy Endowed Scholarship for Intercollegiate Athletics, which provides merit-based scholarships for undergraduate student-athletes with a preference on Men's Basketball student-athletes. His recent gift is directed toward the Impact Fund and the endowed scholarship in his name. Bob, who earned his master's in library and information services from Maryland, worked for the Department of Defense for 33 years and retired in 2008. Then in January 2026 he again retired from his second career after working part-time for 12 years as a trainer for the National Institute of Transition Planning, Inc. Bob says he is pleased to 'give back' to the university that provided a superb education and hopes others will follow his lead, and Go Terps!
Mike '85 played football for the Terps and earned a degree in marketing from Maryland and Mary '84 graduated from Maryland with a degree in general studies. Mike is the 11th Maryland Athletics letterwinner to join the 1856 Society and the third football letterwinner. The Strittmatters' recent gift supported the Director of Athletics Fund and their generosity has included the football program, scholarships, and more. In 2024 they established the Strittmatter Family Endowed Discretionary Fund for Intercollege Athletics to provide unrestricted support to the athletics department. He recently received the Kevin Glover Alumni Impact Award, given annually to a Maryland letterwinner who has given to and helped the football program. He currently serves as the President of Strittmatter Companies.
Our campaign for the Fearless
Philanthropic gifts to Athletics support Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless, a $2.5 billion fundraising initiative in support of expanding access to UMD's top-tier education, accelerating groundbreaking research and building stronger communities. Maryland Athletics aims to raise at least $350M as part of the Forward campaign, elevating priorities that fit into four fundraising objectives: Elevate a championship culture; empower young people to realize their full potential; mold tomorrow's leaders today; and foster success through community. Those interested in learning more about how they can participate in the Forward campaign are encouraged to click HERE or contact the Terrapin Club at 301-314-7020 or tclub@umd.edu.
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