The University of Delaware athletics department, on behalf of its football season ticket holders, made a contribution of $102,898 to two funds set up to aid the families of the victims of the tragedies that struck the United States on Sept. 11, Director of Athletics Edgar Johnson announced.

The money was collected from donations from University of Delaware football season ticket holders who were given the option to either receive a refund or donate their ticket fee to the relief efforts surrounding the national tragedy, which led to the cancellation of the Delaware vs. West Chester game Sept. 15.

The total amount that will be donated is $102,898, which will be split between the American Red Cross and the 9/11 Neediest Fund set up by The New York Times.

"The University is proud to make this donation in the name of our fans and season ticket holders," Johnson said. "Every American was touched by the tragedies of Sept. 11. We are delighted that so many of our fans have taken the opportunity to donate their money to those relief efforts. The response was overwhelming."

In additon to the donation from season ticket holders, University of Delaware student-athletes have also been involved in fund-raising for the American Red Cross.

Three members of the University of Delaware women's track and field team, senior Jennie Chiller of Sharon, Mass., senior Gena Carapezzo of Ewing, N.J., and junior Melissa Calvanico of Staten Island, N.Y., organized the production and sale of T-shirts that depicted the date of the tragedy with University of Delaware mascot, YoUDee, shown with an American flag.

More than 550 T-shirts were sold to UD student-athletes with proceeds exceeding $2,000 being sent to the American Red Cross.