UB Blue And White Club Drive Surpasses Goal, Raises $369,342 In Scholarship Pledges

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Members and volunteers of UB's Blue and White Club broke their $300,000 goal for this year's athletic scholarship fund drive with a record-breaking total of $369,342 pledged during the month-long drive.

Organizers of the drive said the magnitude of the support from the community is critical if UB's student-athletes are to compete on an even playing field in the intensely competitive world of NCAA Division I athletics.

Scholarship Co-chairperson Laura J. Barnum welcomed the challenge and was delighted to exceed the goal. "UB Athletics has a life-changing impact on the young athletes on and off the playing field," added Barnum, of North Tonawanda, director of business operations in the UB Division of Athletics. "We all know that a young athlete's dream becomes a reality because of our efforts."

"Surpassing our goal was no surprise," said Frank Berrafato, co-chairperson of the scholarship fund drive and like Barnum, a former UB student-athlete. "I knew we could do it because our volunteers were committed to success." Berrafato, of East Amherst, is owner/developer of Mississippi Mudds, Berrafato's Char-pit, and Antique World and Marketplace.

He noted: "President Greiner and Athletics Director Bob Arkeilpane have led the university in making a significant front-end investment in our athletics program, so we knew we could do no less. This will help UB take the next step."

The Blue and White Club was established in 1995 to provide scholarship support for deserving student athletes, to promote UB athletics and to bridge the gap between UB and the community.

In addition to Barnum and Berrafato, key players in the scholarship drive included the newly-appointed president of the Blue and White Club, Mark Adler of Williamsville, director of client services at Flynn and Friends Advertising; John Dunbar Jr. of Clarence, senior vice president and principal of Strategic Investments & Holdings, Inc., and Robert Lipp of Kenmore, attorney/partner with Falk & Siemer LLP.

Joining these fund-drive leaders were more than 90 volunteers who worked from Feb. 9 to March 9.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.