RICHMOND, Va. – VCU Athletics BoostHER Classic recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a professional luncheon and golf tournament.
 
The BoostHER Classic, formally known as the Women's Golf Classic, began in 2014 when longtime VCU supporters Vickie Snead and Natalie Newfield co-founded the event to raise money for women's athletics at VCU. Over the past ten years, the event has raised more than $350,000 for VCU's women's sport programs.
 
"Natalie and I felt a need to support Women's Athletics to give them more exposure. In starting the golf event, Natalie's idea was to create opportunities for women to play golf and support VCU women student-athletes and programs. Our first year of the event, we netted $25,000, and it has been amazing to see the growth over the past ten years," said Snead.
 
The event has continued to rise in demand, and through Natalie and Vickie's efforts, women have the desire to support our female student-athletes philanthropically. The BoostHER Classic is one event that is part of the VCU Athletics Women's Initiative BoostHER. The mission of BoostHER is to advance VCU's women's athletics programs through student-athlete empowerment, fundraising, fan engagement and community service.
 
"Vickie and I wanted to provide the opportunity to spotlight women's athletics. This event has truly shown the power of women supporting women over the past ten years. Women like community and collaboration, and coming together to support our female student-athletes at VCU shows how paying back helps pay it forward. As women, we all have a responsibility to reach back and help others along. Our female student-athletes are not only athletes, but they are first and foremost students, and they are amazing and accomplished women whose stories need to be heard," said Newfield.
 
This year, the golf classic was rebranded into the BoostHER Classic. The name change exemplifies the purpose of women supporting women through a mission-centered event that includes hearing the female student-athlete story, golf and encouraging all women to participate.
 
The 10th-anniversary event included a luncheon attended by female professionals as well as student-athletes and coaches from VCU's women's sports programs. The luncheon provided a unique opportunity to hear about their experience and the impact of BoostHER.
 
Following the luncheon, the group had the opportunity to participate in a round of golf.
 
With the national focus and growing need for equity in women's sports, this event stands out as an opportunity for individuals and companies to support a department dedicated to empowering women.
 
The growth and support over the previous ten years marks another step in the growth of BoostHER. If you're interested in supporting BoostHER click HERE or please contact a member of the development staff.