SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Cal State San Marcos Athletics celebrated its 10th anniversary of Giving Day with a record-shattering day that saw the department raise $278,686.52 from 616 donors in just 24 hours.
 
"I am incredibly thankful and proud of the support CSUSM Athletics received on this year's Giving Day," CSUSM Director of Athletics Morod Shah said. "Over the years, Giving Day has been such a great way to share our story and the story of our amazing student-athletes. To see our community of supporters continue to rally around them is inspiring."
 
Athletics' 2024 total was a 54.7% increase over 2023's then-record of $180,149.
 
Several different matches helped put CSUSM over the top, including an Athletics-only match of $65,000 from Trudy Mangrum and part of a $200,000 University match from the Epstein Family. These matches assisted seven of Athletics' programs in raising at least $20,000 each.

"We are so grateful for the frontline matches given by Trudy Mangrum and Mr. and Mrs. Epstein that have helped us maximize the impact of our gifts," Shah said. "Their impact is felt throughout all of our students and our entire department, and they've truly been a game changer for CSUSM Athletics. I am also proud of our coaches, our staff and our CSUSM team behind the scenes for helping us make history. This is what it means to have a heart of a Cougar, and this is the true power of CSUSM."
 
The University also set a record with $748,362 from 2,143 donors.
 
Giving Day is part of Giving Tuesday, an international day focused on philanthropy.