There’s a new way for supporters of Chatham University athletics to contribute to its programs. Enter the Purple & Gray Club, a recognition society for donors who have given at least $250 to the athletic program in a fiscal year.
The Purple & Gray Club will raise funds for student-athlete programs with donations from alumni, parents and supporters.
Introduced earlier this year, funds will be used to support the construction of Athletic Annex, formerly known as Athletic Alley, at Chatham Eastside, as well as other renovation projects meant to ensure athletic and academic success for students.
Donors will be sorted into several tiers depending on their contributions, with each tier offering different benefits for contributors, such as free admission to games. Select donors also will be given the opportunity to name facilities they contribute to, such as West Field in Munhall, Athletic Annex, the Varsity Field behind the Art & Design Center and the Athletic & Fitness Center (AFC) available as options.
Recent graduates can contribute, as well, as part of the Young Alumni Society, which allows membership for a $100 yearly donation as opposed to the standard $250.
“Honestly, I think that’s amazing. I think it helps out Chatham and also gives alumni recognition as well,” said Sofia Zayas ‘27, a women’s softball team member.
Vice President of Athletics Leonard Trevino said the Purple & Gray Club is vital to making possible new facilities like Athletic Annex, a project which he hopes will be completed by fall 2026 at the latest.
“Ideally, we’d like to finish sometime in the spring, and I’d like to let this year’s students use the weight room [at the Annex], so they could see it, and they could get excited about it,” Trevino said, adding that the Annex will be essential to the formation of two wrestling teams.
The Purple & Gray Club will also contribute to renovations to Varsity Field and AFC and West Field locker room expansions.
“When you built [the AFC] back in 2000, [Chatham] was a singlegender school,” Trevino said. “So just by the nature of that, you’re 50% short on locker rooms.”
Zayas expressed excitement at the proposed addition of locker rooms at West Field.
“It’s definitely something that’s new for the softball program,” she said. “It’s exciting and looks like it’s going in the right direction.”
Zayas noted that progress on athletic infrastructure construction has been pleasantly quick.
Our coach “told us about the possibilities of a new locker room, and I wasn’t sure how fast that would be,” she said.
Brady Mensch ‘28 supports the mission of the Purple & Gray Club and thinks it could apply to raise funds for other Chatham programs.
“A lot more places need it. I feel like athletics is underfunded, but so is literally everything in the school, so it would be very needed,” Mensch said.
The club has already seen significant progress since it was announced in February.
“If you had asked me this a month and a half ago, we weren’t there yet,” Trevino said. “I think what you’re going to see is a bigger push of [the club]. This year, Homecoming will be a big part of that.”
Anyone interested in donating to the club can do so by visiting the Chatham Athletics website at gochathamcougars.com.
