PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh College Foundation's ninth-annual "Game On For Giving" campaign to benefit SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinal Athletics and Recreational Sports is gearing up for competition.

Beginning April 2, Cardinal teams will compete for donor support and the chance to win cash prizes. 

For this year's competition, Karen McGrath, SUNY Plattsburgh Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success, and her siblings are generously offering a total of $20,000 in cash prizes through the McGrath Family Challenge in honor of their father, Joseph, as they approach the 20th anniversary of his passing in 2005.
 
"My dad suffered a heart attack at age 36 and two massive strokes at age 44 due to stress and hypertension, "Karen said. "These events changed the course of all of our lives, as he was permanently disabled and lost his ability to speak. But with great care and changing his lifestyle, he lived just shy of his 75th birthday." McGrath shared.
 
The McGrath Family Challenge aims to support Cardinals' well-being through varsity athletics, recreation and fitness, as well as providing students with tools to manage their overall health, achieve personal success, persist to graduation and develop a lifelong commitment to being active.
 
"My dad was very clear to us when we were young that our education was critical in having a better life," said Karen's brother Tim McGrath.  "As first-generation college students, the four of us achieved our dad's dream for us by all obtaining college degrees, and he was also so proud that we earned graduate or law degrees. He gave us the personal support we needed with a gentle smile or hug."
 
2025 McGRATH FAMILY CHALLENGES & PRIZES
 
Division III Teams

• Most Alumni Donors: $2,500 
• Second-most Alumni Donors: $1,000 
• Third-most Alumni Donors: $500 
• Most Overall Donors: $1,000 

 
Club Sports Teams

• Most Overall Donors: $500 
• Second-most Overall Donors: $300 
• Third-most Overall Donors: $200 

 
Bonus Challenges

• $5,000 to Cardinal Athletics if the overall campaign raises $80,000.
• $3,000 to Recreational Sports if recreational sports teams raise $3,000.
• $2,000 to Cardinal Athletics if overall campaign secures 1,200 donors.
• $1,000 to the first FOUR teams (DIII or Club) to secure 40 alumni donors each.

"Donor support enhances and builds opportunities for our student-athletes by providing them with top-notch facilities and amenities to achieve peak performance," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation MIke Howard. "We are so thankful to the McGrath family and the entire Cardinal community that motivates and fuels our teams and clubs with their participation in Game On For Giving 2025."

Everyone is encouraged to get in the game by making a donation to the Plattsburgh College Foundation and designating their gift to their favorite Cardinal team(s) and supporting student-athletes.

In addition to giving to any of the 18 Cardinal varsity teams and 13 recreational club teams, donors may designate gifts to the Fitness Center, athletic communications or the Cardinal Athletics general fund, the latter of which benefits all DIII teams. Donors may also choose to divide their support among multiple recipients.

Fans can learn more about Game On For Giving, make a gift and find out where each team stands in the competitions by visiting plattsburgh.edu/gameon. Gifts can be made from Wednesday, April 2 through Wednesday, April 9.