By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

$100,000 gift from the Matteottis will support Kodiaks Athletics student-athletes

Dec 12, 2018 | 11:02 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Lethbridge College Kodiaks Athletics received a game-changing $100,000 gift from long-time booster Flora Matteotti, on behalf of her late husband Val and herself, on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The announcement took place just steps away from the entrance to the Val Matteotti Gymnasium – the home court for Kodiaks Athletics – as the Matteottis continued a long tradition of supporting the Kodiaks and the college.

Kodiaks Athletics manager Todd Caughlin says it’s tough to explain just how much of an impact this gift will have on the Kodiaks.

“We pride ourselves on building our programs around athletes who fit our three pillars of academic accountability, athletic excellence and community involvement, and those are values Flora and Val have always championed,” he continued. “This gift will help us to support more student-athletes than ever before as they pursue their educational and athletic goals.”

The gift will go to support the newly-named Val and Flora Matteotti Kodiaks recruitment fund, the Kodiaks team of the year award winners and athletics scholarships.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

The Kodiaks team of the year award will be re-branded as the Val and Flora Matteotti Kodiaks Team of the Year award and given annually to the Kodiaks team that best represents the three pillars of Kodiaks Athletics.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Matteottis’ gift that led to the construction of the college’s Physical Education building and the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

Another major gift, in 2000, led to the creation of the Flora Matteotti Centre for Teaching and Learning.

The Matteottis have also supported events such as the Clayton Allan Wine Auction and the Lethbridge College Golf Tournament. Val and Flora Matteotti have both been inducted into the Lethbridge College Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to the college.

“We are so thankful for the on-going support of the Matteotti family and their commitment to the college and to the Kodiaks,” Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns said.

“Our student-athletes are a shining example of what we embody at Lethbridge College, and they are ambassadors both while they’re at the college and once they enter their careers and communities. This gift will benefit them both directly and indirectly for years to come.”

The first part of the Matteottis gift supported the now-completed My Kodiaks Moment giving campaign, where all funds went directly to Kodiaks Athletics scholarships.

The Matteottis have a long tradition of supporting young athletes, including multiple decades as name sponsors of the Val Matteotti Golden Hawks bantam hockey team, the first sports team sponsored by the family.

Flora Matteotti says Val always had a soft spot for sports, as he loved them but was never able to participate as a young boy because he was busy working on the family farm.

“So, I can continue to honour Val and his passion for sports by supporting the Kodiaks and these student-athletes. It is great to continue our long-time support of the college and the Kodiaks.”

The Kodiaks also announced a successful completion of the My Kodiaks Moments giving campaign, which raised $10,119.65 from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2. Money raised – which included a gift from Flora Matteotti, donations from the inaugural Alumni Weekend on Nov. 23 and 24 and online donations – go directly to support scholarships for Kodiaks student-athletes.