Chatham's
Purple & Gray Club is a dynamic community of alumni, parents, and supporters dedicated to enhancing the experience of Chatham's student-athletes. By providing annual financial and moral support, the club plays a crucial role in funding initiatives that go beyond the university's traditional athletic budget, ensuring that our student-athletes thrive both on and off the field.
Campaign Objectives
- Create State-of-the-Art Athletic Facilities
- Develop Athletic Alley at Chatham University's Eastside Campus, a premier destination hub for athletics, wellness, and community engagement.
- Blend versatile athletic spaces with communal areas to enhance the student experience and support NCAA athletics growth.
- Modernizing the Athletic & Fitness Center (AFC)
- Athletic Alley Transformative Facilities (Phase 1)
- Entrance & Lobby: A welcoming lounge and lobby to foster collaboration and community.
- Weight Room & Training Area: A top-tier fitness facility for athletes, students, and wellness enthusiasts.
- Film Room: A cutting-edge space for teams to review game footage and strategize.
- Locker Rooms: Comfortable, modern facilities tailored to meet the needs of all users, including men's and women's wrestling teams.
- Wrestling & Multi-Purpose Rooms: Adaptive spaces for wrestling, competitive cheerleading, and other activities.
- Batting Cages & Bullpens: Dedicated training areas for baseball and softball athletes, with recreational options.
- Staff Offices & Storage: Purpose-built areas for efficient operations and logistics.
- Future-Oriented Expansion (Phase 2)
- Academic Labs: Expand opportunities for research and learning in exercise science, athletic training, and physical therapy.
- Enhance Community Engagement and Visibility
- Strengthen ties between Chatham University and Pittsburgh's vibrant Eastside community.
- Position Chatham as a leader in blending athletic excellence with academic innovation and community impact.
- Provide Chatham's student-athletes with the resources and facilities they need to excel.
- Foster a supportive environment that aligns with Chatham's mission of holistic student development with the creation of new club programs.
Purple & Gray Club Strategy
To achieve these goals, the campaign will implement a tiered annual giving structure designed to engage donors at various levels:
- Donation Levels:
- $250 – Bronze
- $500 – Silver
- $1,000 – Gold
- $2,500 – Platinum (Uniforms & Equipment; travel; meals & nutrition; recruiting costs)
- $5,000 – Cougar Circle (Uniforms & Equipment; Sports performance & training; Champion support; Capital gifts support expansion of AFC, softball locker rooms, or home ice hockey rink.
- Young Alumni Society – "GIFT" (Graduates Investing for Tomorrow): Special giving opportunity for recent graduates with a suggested contribution of $100.
By offering accessible donation tiers and highlighting the impact of contributions, we aim to unite the Chatham community in achieving our ambitious goals.
Purple & Gray Club Timeline
The Purple & Gray Club will launch on February 1, 2025, with activities and events designed to energize the Chatham community and foster engagement.
All gifts received during a fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) will counts towards membership into the Purple & Gray Club.
For information on named opportunities please contact
Doug Caputo at d.caputo@chatham.edu or 412-365-1262.
Named Opportunities above $10,000
- Varsity Field
- Varsity Field Fencing
- Varsity Field Net Repairs
- Varsity Field Storage Building Roof
- Establishing Women's Sports Business Management
- Establishing Flag Football at Chatham
- Establishing Competitive Cheer
- Establishing Wrestling
Named Opportunities under $2,500
- Outdoor Beach Volleyball Court: $2,500
- Repair AFC Patio firepit: $1,500
- Umbrellas for AFC Patio, each: $500
- Outdoor seating area for Chatham Eastside:
- Each picnic table: $1,000 (need three)
- Each outdoor planter: $750 (need three)
- Outdoor umbrellas: $500 (need three)
