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Katie Ledecky '20, 14-time Olympic Medalist

Go for gold!

Thank you for celebrating and supporting Stanford student-athletes during the Home of Champions Challenge! Your continued support ensures that the Farm remains the premier training ground for national and world champions.

Make a gift Make a gift (external link)

The Stanford Athletics community came together over a two-week period to celebrate the Cardinal competing in Paris and support our nearly 900 student-athletes across 36 varsity sports.

With a total of 59 Stanford affiliated athletes in Paris and 37 representing Team USA, the most of any NCAA school, we are proud to proclaim that Olympians Are Made Here. As Cardinal athletes and coaches achieved their goal of representing Stanford and their country on the podium, we challenged the Stanford Athletics community to help us reach our goal of raising $250,000 to directly support current student-athletes. Like our student-athletes, the Cardinal rose to the occasion and met the Challenge!

Maggie Steffens waves poolside

Maggie Steffens, ’16, MS ’17
2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 U.S. Women’s Water Polo

Asher Hong

Asher Hong, ’26
Bronze Medalist
2024 U.S. Men’s Gymnastics

Mackenzie Little throws a javelin

Mackenzie Little, ’19
2020, 2024 Australia Women’s Track & Field

Stanford in Paris

This summer 59 Stanford affiliates — plus 3 coaches — competed on the world’s largest stage.

See the latest news from Paris See the latest news from Paris (external link)
39 females, 20 males, 14 current student-athletes, 3 coaches, 14 nations
Summer wears her medals
U.S. Swimming

Summer Sanders, ’94

My Stanford student-athlete experience kept me grounded and focused as I competed in the 1992 Olympics. Being a member of the women’s swimming program and training with my teammates and best friends every day on the Farm was the greatest preparation to compete and win on the biggest stage in the world. I am so grateful for the philanthropic support of Stanford Athletics donors, without which I would not have had the opportunity to attend Stanford and pursue my dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist.

1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
10-Time NCAA National Champion

Oscar with a basketball
Germany Men’s Basketball

Oscar da Silva, ’21

“I chose to attend Stanford because I wanted to play collegiate basketball at an institution that would equip me with an education and a degree that carries weight while competing at the highest level possible. My student-athlete experience pushed me to always find new ways to improve as an athlete and person, a skill set that has taken me from the Farm to the Olympic stage in Paris. I am very thankful for Stanford Athletics donors who took a chance on me. Your investment in student-athletes has the power to change not just one life, but an entire family and future generations.”

2024 Germany Men’s Basketball
2021 Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Fiona crosses the finish line at olympic qualifier
U.S. Marathon

Fiona O’Keeffe, ’20

At its best, collegiate athletics provides an excellent learning environment for future Olympians and opportunities for student-athletes to work on the skill set of competition. Training with my Stanford teammates and competing at the highest level against the best distance runners in the country gave me the confidence to compete and succeed in any race, from the NCAA championship my freshman year to my debut marathon at the Olympic Trials and most recently on the world’s largest stage in Paris.

2024 Olympic Qualifier - Marathon
2019 Pac-12 Champion

Behind the match: Gene, MBA ’84, and Tracy Sykes

As a former Stanford Board of Trustees member and the current president and chair of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Gene (pictured left), MBA ’84, and Tracy Sykes have been instrumental in the success of Stanford’s Olympic history. They understand the pivotal role NCAA sports play in strengthening the Olympic Games and are excited to provide this matching opportunity to further impact Stanford’s current and future Olympians.

Questions?

  • The Home of Champions Challenge is a unique opportunity to celebrate and support Stanford student-athletes and coaches competing in Paris by making an online gift to the Buck/Cardinal Club or any varsity sport to have your gift matched.

  • The challenge begins at 7 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, July 25 and concludes Monday, August 12 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

  • Gifts made online to the Buck/Cardinal Club or any sport improvement fund will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 per donor, between July 25 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time and August 12 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time until the match is exhausted.

  • Yes, philanthropic gifts to the Buck/Cardinal Club or sport improvement funds are 100 percent tax-deductible. Football and Men’s Basketball Priority Seat Contributions made during the Home of Champions Challenge are not eligible to be matched because they are non-deductible.

  • Any gift made to the Buck/Cardinal Club is eligible for benefits; however, gifts made to a specific sport are not eligible for Buck/Cardinal Club benefits. View the benefits chart for more details.

  • For general questions about the Buck/Cardinal Club, call (650) 721-2410 or send an email to buckcardinal@stanford.edu.

    You can also reach out to anyone on our team and we will be glad to help:

    Danny Berardini
    Assistant Athletics Director, Development
    danny.berardini@stanford.edu
    (650) 736-6907

    Maggie Oys
    Assistant Director, Development
    moys@stanford.edu
    (650) 498-3028

    Carter Magee
    Assistant Director, Development
    cmagee@stanford.edu
    (650) 725-0408

runners on a track