CURRY FAMILY WOMEN'S ATHLETICS INITIATIVE
The Curry Family Women's Athletics Initiative is the path to more equitable scholarship funding across Davidson Athletics and in support of scholar-athletes making a difference in and out of competition. By granting access to resources and creating more opportunities for women, we hope to uplift, empower and foster an unbiased society that leads to a better world.
In addition to financial support, the initiative aims to unlock the full potential of women scholar-athletes through mentorships, career programming and community outreach. Davidson College is committed to giving women scholar-athletes greater platforms to amplify their voices—voices that influence, inspire and push forward a more equitable culture.
For the complete press release on the Curry Family Women's Athletics Initiative, visit davidsonwildcats.com.
PILLARS
1. Access
2. Equity
3. Opportunity
GOALS
We aspire to expand women’s endowed athletic scholarships to attract additional top-level athletes to each of our women’s teams. By improving our competitiveness, we are upgrading the experience for every Davidson scholar-athlete, enhancing the contributions of each team to the campus experience for all students and enhancing the overall impact of athletics on the community and the college’s national reputation.
With added support, we are competing for championships, developing leaders, breaking glass ceilings and building a community around women’s athletics.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
We are grateful for Stephen and Ayesha Curry who made a gift to establish an unrestricted scholarship endowment for women’s sports. The fund will be strategically deployed across women’s programs to attract talented athletes who will make a difference on our teams and in our communities. We invite you to join by making a gift to support the Curry Family fund or creating a new endowed scholarship for women’s athletics. As part of this initiative, endowment gifts can also be designated to support a single women’s team of your preference.
Below is the scholarship breakdown for each of our women’s sports:
An endowment gift is one of the most impactful gifts a donor can make to Davidson College. Endowed funds provide a lasting source of support and provide an opportunity to bring leading talent to Davidson. Currently, Davidson awards more than 80 endowed athletics scholarships each year at varying levels. Men’s sports currently receive nearly 70 percent of the current endowed scholarship funds as a result of past philanthropic support. An increased number of endowed athletics scholarships allows for annual gifts to the Davidson Athletic Fund to be applied to other athletics needs, including travel, equipment, recruiting and enhanced technology for training and recovery. Below are named scholarship endowment levels:
$1,600,000 – Named Full Scholarship Endowment
$800,000 – Named Half Scholarship Endowment
$200,000 – Named Sport-Specific (Restricted) Scholarship Endowment
$ ANY SIZE – Support the Curry Family Women’s Athletics Scholarship Fund
Endowments can be funded through outright or planned gifts. Donors may choose to establish a new endowment fund or add to an existing endowment. For more information on endowments or other ways to support Davidson Athletics via a gift to the Davidson Athletic Fund, please contact the Davidson Athletic Fund at daf@davidson.edu or 704-894-2396.
ABOUT DAVIDSON WOMEN'S ATHLETICS
With the introduction of co-education at Davidson College in 1972, women's athletics expanded throughout the decade. Initially, however, women were limited to playing on previously all-male sports teams.
In 1973-1974, the women's basketball team was organized at Davidson. That same year, the first women's tennis team launched, coached by a student-player, Carol Goldsborough Jarrett '75.
By 1982, female scholar-athletes were actively competing in Southern Conference sports. In 1984, women's tennis at Davidson achieved a particularly noteworthy success, winning the Division III National Championship. In 1986, the women's basketball team followed suit and won the Division III State Championship.
Women's Varsity Sports Chronology
1973 - Basketball
1973 - Tennis
1974 - Swimming
1976 - Field Hockey
1978 - Cross Country and Track/Field
1989 - Soccer
1986 - Volleyball
1994 - Lacrosse
Today, Davidson boasts 10 NCAA Division I women's sports, and nearly 200 female scholar-athletes represent the Wildcats in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Since the enactment of Title IX in 1972, Davidson has won 9 regular season and 20 conference tournament titles in women’s sports.
According to research conducted by Ernst & Young, 94 percent of women in the C-suite played sports, 52 percent at the university level. From doctors to teachers to CEOs, Davidson women have demonstrated time and again that their accomplishments in competition are just the beginning of their impact on the world.