‘Suits and Sneakers’: UNF Athletics hosts 10th annual fundraising bash

‘Suits and Sneakers’: UNF Athletics hosts 10th annual fundraising bash Categories: Latest Latest Stories News Sports ‘Suits and Sneakers’: UNF Athletics hosts 10th annual fundraising bash Lindsey Smith, Sports Reporter | Oct 13, 2026 Lindsey Smith Donors could pay to have their logo displayed on the UNF Arena’s digital sign for the UNF Athletics annual fundraiser. Nearly 200 donors, corporate sponsors, and guests gathered at the UNF Arena for the 10th annual Blue and Gray Bash on Friday for University of North Florida Athletics’ premier fundraising event supporting more than 300 student-athletes. This year’s theme, “Suits and Sneakers,” focused funding efforts on student-athlete nutrition, according to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development Dereck Marinatos. Key initiatives include providing meals after practice, funding additional dining options through UNF’s dining service, Chartwells, and rebooting the campus fueling station with high-quality sports nutrition snacks, Marinatos said. Lindsey Smith The theme of the UNF Athletics fundraising event was “Suits and Sneakers”. During the fundraiser, UNF Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nick Morrow said the athletics department achieved 73 ASUN championships, made 92 NCAA tournament appearances, and logged 3,000 community service hours by student-athletes last year. About 40 student-athletes helped run the event, hosting carnival-style games, mini-golf, and a photo booth for other attendees.  Lindsey Smith During the event, attendees watched a promo video from the athletic department on how the donations would help student-athletes. The evening also featured live and online auctions, offering 120 packages ranging from sports travel to signed memorabilia, along with meal packages starting at $1,500 to feed three athletes for a full competition season.  Lindsey Smith A few of the online auction packages lined up on the table at the side of the UNF Arena. Corporate VIP sponsorships ranged from $2,500 to $3,500, offering featured logo placement inside the arena and on promotional materials. According to Marinatos, proceeds also directly support the Osprey Club Fund to cover ongoing athletic program needs. For more information or news tips, or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments or concerns, contact [email protected]. View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment More to Discover More in Latest Lend-A-Wing food pantry sees surge in student visits this fall North Florida earns second place in home contest, makes 26 podium finishes UNF Senate addresses attendance, sustainability and student success Hurricane Isaias prompts schedule shifts for UNF teams and Sporting JAX matches More in Latest Stories Hurricane Isaias intensifies into Category 3 storm Tropical Storm Isaias forms in the Gulf: What UNF students need to know The Gay Bar Issue: Queer establishments in Jacksonville at risk of closure How one UNF professor survived a heart condition and began raising money to help others More in News Osprey Ridge construction brings student outdoor spaces, resident concerns Michael P. Shannon approved as UNF’s eighth president Ozzie Bucks return to off-campus dining via GrubHub partnership UNF keeps Flock cameras active despite Florida’s highway ban About the Contributor Lindsey Smith, Sports Editor Lindsey Smith is Spinnaker’s current Sports Editor. She is a sophomore at the University of North Florida, majoring in Sport Management with a minor in Physics.