WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The Tribe Club, William and Mary athletics fundraising arm, collected a total of $2,850,000 in annual support for the 2011-2012 athletics year.

The effort marks the fourth-straight year the Tribe Club has eclipsed the $2.5 million mark in annual giving, while the $2.85 million sets a school single-year record (besting $2.73 million raised in 2009-10).

"I am constantly humbled by the passion, dedication and financial support our friends, fans and alumni show our athletics program," longtime Tribe Club Executive Director Bobby Dwyer stated.  "In today's world of rising athletics costs, and with our department receiving no state funding, these monies are more crucial than ever in providing our student-athletes with the necessary tools to compete for conference championships and to have a great athletics experience."

The Tribe Club received donations from nearly a quarter of all living athletic alumni (22 percent), led by the men's gymnastics program's amazing 52 percent participation rate.  Overall, five W&M athletics programs had more than a 24 percent participation rate from its alumni.

As William and Mary moves into the 2012-13 athletics calendar, the first Tribe Club event will be the BB&T invitational, held at Colonial Williamsburg's beautiful Golden Horseshoe Green Course on Sept. 28.  For more information, please visit www.TribeClub.com or click here.