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The Mike Gary Athletic Fund

Mitchell “Mike” Gary, for whom the Gary Fund is named, was Western’s football coach from 1924 through 1941. He became associate athletic director in the late 1940s, and he served as director of athletics from 1949 through 1967. It was during this time that the University began full-scale competition in the Mid-American Conference. Mike Gary was inducted into the WMU Hall of Fame in 1978. Established in 1956, the Gary Fund is a community-based support program for WMU athletics. Area business leaders started the fund, which is dedicated to improving sports programs at WMU. The Gary Fund provides direct financial support for all varsity men’s and women’s sports at Western.

How Your Donation is Used

WMU men’s and women’s athletic programs receive more than $935,000 in annual support through the Mike Gary Athletic Fund. Funding is used to provide scholarships, state-of-the-art facilities, travel support and sports equipment to WMU’s intercollegiate programs. Donations provide our student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level.

Gary Fund Membership

The most significant benefit of membership in the Gary Fund is realizing that your financial assistance is helping to fund educational opportunities for Bronco student-athletes. You’ll receive additional benefits based on the amount of your annual gift.

• Less than $250 Possible tax deduction and invitations to special events.
• $250–499 Benefits noted for the previous level, plus the privilege of purchasing men’s basketball chairbacks, hockey chairbacks, football parking*, volleyball parking*, women’s basketball parking*, hockey parking* and having your name listed in the sports yearbooks.
• $500–$999 Benefits noted for the previous level, plus the privilege of purchasing football chairbacks and men’s basketball parking*.
• $1,000–$2,499 Benefits noted for the previous level, plus selected sports yearbooks, postseason ticket priority and access to a Student Recreation Center membership**.
• $2,500 Benefits noted in previous level, plus pre-season coaches preview.
• * Your season ticket purchase combined with your Gary Fund gift allows you access to parking areas near athletic facilities.
  ** A Student Recreation Center membership must be purchased if you decide to join.

Important Tax Information

For federal income tax purposes, a charitable contribution is usually allowed for amounts contributed in excess of fair market value of any benefits received. Certain limitations apply, and special rules apply to contributions that entitle the contributor to purchase tickets to athletic events. All contributions to the Gary Fund and/or the WMU Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (for any purpose) are subject to these special rules. Please consult your tax advisor.