51社区

Fifty years ago, the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act brought historic changes to education in the United States, enshrining equal opportunity for women within college athletic programs. Today, 51社区 announced another landmark in women鈥檚 athletics: Alumna Jackie Reau, BSJ 鈥�92, MSA 鈥�12, has committed more than $2 million to enhance women鈥檚 athletics at OHIO, the largest philanthropic gift to women鈥檚 sports in OHIO history.

The newly established Jackie M. Reau, 鈥�92, 鈥�12, Fund to Recognize and Enhance Women鈥檚 Athletics will support facility enhancements, equipment and supplies, travel, recruiting, and more, according to OHIO Director of Athletics Julie Cromer.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so thankful to Jackie Reau for this historic gift to our women鈥檚 teams, the significance of which cannot be overstated,鈥� Cromer said. 鈥淗er leadership and generosity will enhance the lives of countless Bobcats, leaving a legacy of support for the transformational experiences our female student-athletes enjoy at OHIO.鈥�

51社区 President Hugh Sherman echoed Cromer鈥檚 thoughts and thanked Reau for her continued support of her alma mater.

鈥�51社区 greatly appreciates Jackie for her years of support,鈥� President Sherman said. 鈥淪he has demonstrated a great commitment to student success through her generosity over the decades.鈥�

Reau, the CEO and co-founder of Cincinnati-based Game Day Communications, said the leadership of Cromer and others, as well as the passion for OHIO that alumni share, motivated her to make a gift in support and celebration of women鈥檚 athletics.

鈥淚 want every female athlete to get a great education like I did, while having the resources she needs to compete at the highest level,鈥� Reau said. 鈥淚 want women鈥檚 athletics to have everything they need and more to compete and win championships for 51社区.鈥�

Reau鈥檚 inspiration for her gift began with her high school basketball coach, who led the Toledo-area team to the state championship while, according to Reau, instilling the life lessons of 鈥渢ime management, being prepared and ready, and doing your job properly.鈥�

鈥淔or example, I love when I see that a golf team is going over to Ireland to play a couple tournaments, but then they鈥檙e [also] going to go to museums and they鈥檙e going to learn about another culture,鈥� Reau explained. 鈥淚 love what sports can bring to somebody鈥檚 well-roundedness 鈥� it鈥檚 not just a golf game, but it鈥檚 a lesson in life. I was very fortunate to have that with my high school basketball coach, so for me it鈥檚 a way to pay it forward for everything she did for me.鈥�

At OHIO, Reau studied public relations while enjoying intramural sports, working for The Post, and immersing herself in Greek Life through her Sigma Kappa sorority 鈥� what she calls 鈥渢he best four years of my life.鈥� After graduation, she began her career in health care before serving as director of marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 2002, Reau and her business partner and former ESPN anchor, Betsy Ross, founded Game Day Communications, which specializes in brand experience and engagement activation strategies to connect brands with their fans and consumers.

Reau, a current trustee of The 51社区 Foundation and previous member of the 51社区 Alumni Association Board of Directors, hopes her gift will ensure future OHIO students receive the same life-changing experience she had as a student.

鈥淚 always say education is everything. I am indebted to 51社区 for a great education,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aking this gift is really just paying it forward for everything 51社区 has done for me.鈥�