2026 GDAC Page

The UAlbany football team hosted Fordham at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y. on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

About Us

The Great Dane Athletic Club serves as the primary fundraising program for UAlbany Athletics, providing athletic scholarships, capital improvements and support of our student-athletes competing in the University's 19 Division I varsity sports. We seek engaged and passionate supporters to build on the program's success and take UAlbany Athletics to the next level of excellence.

Your investment is a critical component of Great Dane success. It is important that our student-athletes have the support and backing of a strong fan base. Your commitment to UAlbany Athletics allows for enhanced academic support, new and improved facilities, and the hiring and retention of top coaches. Sustaining our success – athletically and academically – requires that more fans, organizations, and businesses become partners in the GDAC mission. Now is the time to get involved and secure the future of UAlbany Athletics.

Mark Benson - Director of Athletics

The first-seeded UAlbany women's basketball team hosted second seed Vermont at Broadview Center in Albany, N.Y. for the America East Championship on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Giving Opportunities

Annual giving to GDAC is the lifeblood of UAlbany Athletics and allows us to provide first-class experiences for our student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the community. GDAC raises unrestricted funds every year to support the more than 450 student-athletes who represent the University at Albany. Funds can be used for scholarships, team travel, housing, training facilities, medical treatment, nutrition, uniforms, and all other expenses associated with being a Great Dane student-athlete.

GIVE NOW!

GDAC fuels every aspect of UAlbany Athletics by providing flexible resources where they’re needed most. Your investment helps us fund scholarships, academics, recruiting, and more! GIVE NOW, opens in new tab!
Support the team that matters the most to you. CLICK HERE, opens in new tab!
Make a lasting difference by endowing a scholarship, coaching position, or program; or by including UAlbany Athletics in your estate plans. Your gift will provide support in perpetuity, making a lasting impact for future generations of student-athletes. For more information, please contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu

Ford-Sauers Legends Society

Leading the way for UAlbany Athletics.

The Ford-Sauers Legends Society is UAlbany Athletics' premier philanthropic major giving society. Members of this exclusive group are dedicated donors committed to elevating the success of our athletic department. Ford-Sauers Legends Society gifts help drive transformational change across the athletic department, and gifts may be directed to any athletic department giving priority, such as: Great Dane Athletic Club, sport-specific funds, and endowed scholarships.

As a token of appreciation, each member of the Ford-Sauers Legends Society will receive a custom sport coat upon joining. The sport coat represents each individual member’s investment in the experience that UAlbany Athletics provides for the University’s student-athletes.

Members of the Ford-Sauers Legends Society make a commitment in support of UAlbany Athletics of at least $25,000 or more that is fulfilled over a max 5-year period (ex: $25,000 pledge = $5,000 per year). These major gift commitments are above and beyond any priority seating or annual donations.

5 Year Commitment Levels

Pledge	$25,000	$50,000	$100,000	$250,000	$500,000	$1,000,000
Annually	$5,000	$10,000	$20,000	$50,000	$100,000	$200,000

Ford-Sauers Legends Society members with 5-year commitments will be appropriately stewarded with exclusive, unique engagement opportunities commensurate with their level of giving. Benefits may include: access to events with those directly impacted by your support; exclusive game day opportunities such as field passes, suite invitations, away game travel expriences; branded apparel; etc.

Interested in learning more about the Ford-Sauers Legends Society? Please Click Here or contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu

Ways to Give

To make a gift to the Great Dane Athletic Club, Click Here, opens in new tab!
For more information on the Great Dane Athletic Club, please contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu
Click Here, opens in new tab to submit UAlbany payroll deduction form.
To learn how you can support UAlbany Athletics with a gift of stocks and securities, please contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu
If you're 70 1/2 or older, you're eligible to create a tax-free gift from your QCD, also known as an IRA Charitable Rollover, to support UAlbany Athletics. For more information, please contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu
Please make checks payable to "The University at Albany Foundation". In the memo line, please indicate which team or area of athletics you wish to support. Please mail all checks to Alex Escada at 1400 Washington Ave., Broadview Center 206, Albany, NY 12222
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. Please Click Here, opens in new tab to see if your company will match your donation and to access the forms, guidelines, and instructions that you need to submit a matching gift.
Gift planning offers a variety of ways to structure contributions to the University at Albany in order to provide maximum benefits to donors, to their families and heirs, and to the University. These include gifts with special financial, investment, tax, or legal considerations and might involve assets other than cash, such as securities, real estate, tangible personal property, or life insurance. Bequests, charitable trusts, retirement plans, and various life-income gifts are part of our gift planning offerings. For more information on gift planning, please Click Here, opens in new tab or contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu, opens in new tab
A donor-advised fund (DAF) is an account set up at a charitable organization or financial institution, known as a sponsoring organization, for the purpose of supporting public charities. Individuals can contribute cash, stocks, or other assets to the DAF and receive an immediate tax deduction. Those funds are invested for tax-free growth and the individual can recommend donations to multiple charities of their choice over time. Donors should contact their DAF provider for rules regarding grant specifications.

To make a gift to UAlbany from your DAF, please use the following information:
Account Name: The University at Albany Foundation
Tax ID Number: 14-1503972
For more information, please contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu
We accept Bitcoin and Ethereum as well as a wide variety of other cryptocurrencies. Learn how you can donate crypto to UAlbany Athletics.

Membership and Benefits

Annual giving to the Great Dane Athletic Club (GDAC) is the lifeblood of UAlbany Athletics and allows us to provide first-class experiences for our student-athletes on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The GDAC generates unrestricted funds every year to support the 500+ student-athletes that represent the University at Albany. Funds can be used for scholarships, team travel, housing, training facilities, medical treatment, nutrition, uniforms and all other expenses associated with being a Great Dane student-athlete.

GDAC members who purchase season tickets with qualifying preferred seat gifts will receive various benefits throughout the year including access to complimentary parking, access to private hospitality areas, priority access to playoff tickets and exclusive member events. For more information on membership and benefits, contact Alex Escada by phone at (518) 437-5043 or by email at aescada@albany.edu

Contact Us

Alex Escada - Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development

Nate Mason - Assistant Athletic Director of Ticket Sales and Donor Relations

More

Athletics Staff Directory

Ticket Central

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Great Dane Athletic Club Board

Daniel “Dan” Nolan ’74 (Chair)
R. Maxwell “Max” Alley, MD
Jeffrey “Jeff” Black ‘76
Peter Bulger ‘77
Richard “Rich” Cardillo ‘81, ‘83
Ashley Castellana ’07
Matt Crudo '05
Tyrone “Ty” Curran ‘76
Shankar Das, M.D.
Thomas “Tom” Finn ‘89
Adam Gelman ‘02
Chris Haynor ‘86
Ryan Jankow ‘09
Rick Ostroff '83
Kevin Parisi ‘00
Margaret “Meg” Picotte MacClarence ‘02
Marino Radovich ‘93
Richard “Rich” Rosen ‘86
Arthur “Artie” Schwabe ’85
Edward “Ed” Swyer