Record $2.166 million raised during 2015 calendar year

LAFAYETTE – Contributions to the 2016 Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation Annual Fund (RCAF) have surpassed the $1 million mark, in an announcement by officials on Thursday.

Unrestricted donations to the Annual Fund totaled $1.07 million through the end of April, and comes off the most successful year in the RCAF’s history when $2.166 million was raised in 2015.

"It is our goal every year to grow the RCAF in an effort to provide more resources for our student-athletes, coaches and sport programs," RCAF Chairman Robert Daigle said. "Eclipsing the $1 million mark in the first four months of 2016 is another step in that growth. Thank you to all of the loyal RCAF supporters."

Investments to the RCAF Annual Fund provide unrestricted funds to enhance support for overall operations, personnel, and facility improvements, such as elements of the Athletic Facilities Master Plan, which was released in 2013. Work on the first tier of an initial three-tier program was completed in 2015 with construction of the new Student-Athlete Performance Center and the Ragin’ Cajuns Soccer/Track Facility.

"Thank you to the RCAF membership for once again surpassing the $1 million threshold to the Annual Fund with your support and generosity," RCAF Executive Director Jim Harris said. "The passion and loyalty of the Ragin’ Cajuns can be measured with statistics like this. RCAF is your organization and everyone out there who is a part of this should feel a sense of pride today. However, we are not finished. Please spread the word and let’s continue to grow this."

During the first part of the 2016 calendar year, Ragin’ Cajuns athletics has enjoyed success across the board with women’s basketball tying a single-season school-record for wins (25) and claiming its second consecutive Women’s Basketball Invitational championship. The men’s basketball team made its fourth trip to the postseason in the past five years, while men’s and women’s tennis each posted winning seasons on the court.

The Louisiana softball team has been ranked in the top 10 of the national polls every week during the 2016 season, while the Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team is ranked near the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings and is ranked in the top 10 nationally in attendance.

Senior Haraldur Magnus earned a berth to compete at the 2016 NCAA Men’s Golf Championships while the men’s and women’s track and field teams have posted a combined five school records this spring and will host the Sun Belt Conference Championships May 13-15.