INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The women’s gymnastics program at Cal State Fullerton has secured sufficient funding for the 2010-11 season through a series of fundraisers and financial support from the gymnastics community, and Cal State Fullerton fans and friends. USA Gymnastics assisted Cal State Fullerton by providing an opportunity for the gymnastics family to pledge funds to support the program.
“We are proud to have been a part of the successful efforts to secure funding for the women’s gymnastics program at Cal State Fullerton,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Jill Hicks and her team worked hard this past season to succeed both on the competition floor and in the fundraising arena. We congratulate them on their successful efforts and commend Jill for taking a proactive approach to securing funding for this storied gymnastics program.”
Funding for both women’s gymnastics and men’s wrestling was cut due to the financial challenges facing the California State University system. Athletic Director Brian Quinn offered both gymnastics and wrestling the opportunity to secure funding and avoid having the programs terminated. Both sports raised sufficient funds for next season.
"I wish to congratulate Jill for her remarkable effort in spearheading a campaign that raised $280,000 in a very short time," said CSF Director of Athletics Brian Quinn. "Her passion for her sport and her student-athletes is obvious.”
"We had some big help at the last minute,” said Jill Hicks. “I didn’t know whether we could do it… but we’re set, not permanently, but at least for one more year. We want to thank USA Gymnastics and everyone in the gymnastics family who has helped us achieve our goal, and once this has really ‘sunk’ in, we will begin planning for next season."
This is the second year that USA Gymnastics has reached out to the gymnastics community to support the Cal State Fullerton program. Members of the gymnastics family raised more than $90,000 to support the program for the 2009-10 season. In just 12 months, a total of $370,000 was raised to support CSF.