MANCHESTER, N.H. – Southern New Hampshire Director of Athletics Anthony Fallacaro announced Thursday the department will no longer charge admission to any of its regular-season athletic events beginning in 2018-19, and will instead present fans with an opportunity to provide a donation that will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which is the official charity of NCAA Division II, the Northeast 10 and the SNHU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

With this new initiative, which will begin soon, SNHU fans will receive admission to all regular-season home events at no charge, with venues at men's and women's soccer, volleyball, field hockey, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's lacrosse featuring a display that will offer the ability to donate as each person sees fit.

"After carefully analyzing the process we have, with respect to ticket sales, we have decided to no longer charge admission to home games," said Fallacaro. "This will allow us to expand our relationship with the community through charitable giving, as well as maintain our strong commitment to growing attendance at all of our home contests."

Admission will continue to be charged for any NCAA or NE10 postseason events that are hosted by SNHU.

"It is our utmost goal to reach every child facing a critical illness in New Hampshire," said Holly Blanchard, Director of Marketing for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire. "We are thrilled to have the generous support of Southern New Hampshire University and its NCAA Division II student-athletes. Through collaborative efforts like this, we know that together we have the ability to create life-changing experiences and transform so many lives."

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's mission is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image. Members of a campus SAAC have the opportunity to address issues affecting student-athletes at their institution, while also offering input on issues, which may be national in scope.

"Make-A-Wish is an organization that truly focuses on having an impact, both on children and their families, in all of our communities," said Josh Shapiro, Division II SAAC chair and Colorado Mesa University baseball student-athlete. "As Division II student-athletes, we are given an amazing opportunity to help Make-A-Wish in accomplishing its goal of granting children's wishes. The donations received by Southern New Hampshire from fans will not only impact children who are looking to have their wish granted, but they will also support an important Division II initiative. 

- Information for this release provided by the athletic communications staff at Southern New Hampshire -

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 35,000 volunteers across the U.S., grant a wish every 34 minutes, on average, somewhere in the country. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 300,000 wishes to children in the U.S. and its territories; more than 15,400 in 2017 alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.