Boise State receives seven-figure gift for women’s sports

BOISE, Idaho — Boise State Athletics on Tuesday announced its second seven-figure gift in the past two weeks and its 13th commitment of at least $1 million since the launch of the Lyle Smith Society in December 2020.

According to Boise State Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey, the latest gift from an anonymous donor directly benefits Bronco women’s sports programs and the more than 200 female student-athletes that compete in the blue and orange.

The donation will cover the cost to install lights for Huber Field at Dona Larsen Park, the home of the Boise State softball team. Dickey said the gift “ensures the Broncos will host the MW Championship this coming spring.” 

Head coach Justin Shults and the Broncos claimed the throne as Mountain West regular season champions for the first time in five years in May after winning 16 of 20 conference contests. In 2022, Boise State tied the school record with 40 wins and won a program-best 19 conference games.

Upgrading Dona Larsen Park was one of 12 priorities included in the Boise State Athletics Playbook for Success. Dickey on Tuesday said “we had a need and Bronco Nation responded,” thanking the donor on behalf of his department, Bronco student-athletes and the softball team.

Following the installation of lights at Huber Field, the remaining money from the seven-figure gift will be allocated for undetermined capital projects for Boise State women’s sports. 

“This is a great day for Bronco softball,” Shults said. “Lights at Dona Larsen Park will expand start times to enable even more fans to join us. A big thanks goes to Jeramiah and our fundraising team. They put in the hours to make this happen and it will have an immediate impact as we continue to elevate our program.”

There is 11 women’s sports programs with scholarships at Boise State, up from six programs with no scholarships across the 50 years since the passing of Title IX, according to Tuesday’s announcement. 

Since the launch of ‘UnBridled: The Campaign for Boise State University,’ the athletic department has received two gifts of at least $1 million. The first seven-figure donation was announced on Nov. 3. Additionally, 10 different individuals or families have donated $1 million or more to the Lyle Smith Society. 

“I cannot thank our donor enough for the generous gift for our women’s sports programs,” said Christina Van Tol, Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Services and Senior Woman Administrator. “This is a game changing for us. It expands opportunities for our student-athletes exponentially–from lights to locker rooms–this gift is a difference maker and its impact will be immediate.”

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