HONOLULU (KHON2) — We’re just a few days away from the KHON2 fundraising telethon for University of Hawaii Athletics, and UH Board of Regents Chair Gabriel Lee is setting the tone.
He has committed to a $1 million matching gift to the athletic department.
“UH sports is a big part of this community, and it’s changing so much. Over the last years, you’ve seen the portal, [name, image, likeness], revenue sharing and they need other streams of income, so it’s a great way to contribute to the team, and it’s contributing to the community. It’s our team, Hawaii’s team,” Lee said.
He hopes others will take the momentum built and help during the university’s giving week starting Saturday, Sept. 6.
“By making it a matching gift, we have the UH athletics giving week starts on Saturday, goes all the way until homecoming on the 13th,” he said. “A matching gift will enable the community to come in and support UH too. You donate $20, I’ll match $20. You donate $100 and I’ll match $100. It’s a great way to double the money.”
College athletics is in a new world, with name, image and likeness contracts skyrocketing recently, and revenue sharing allowing universities to pay student-athletes up to $20 million a year. Athletics Director Matt Elliott has said that Hawaii has opted into the revenue-sharing model.
“It truly is the state’s team,” Lee said. “He is a great communicator; he really interacts well with the student-athletes, the staff and the coaches. I see a big difference, and it will really show up in our results.”
We invite you to support Hawaii’s student athletes as KHON2 joins the university for “Hawaii’s Team Drive”, a telethon and fundraiser. It’s coming up next Tuesday, Sept. 9, during our newscasts. Stay with us for all the details on how you can help the home team.