Chapel Hill Review

The Joan H. Gillings Foundation has made a significant contribution to Carolina Athletics, particularly benefiting women student-athletes. This $13.5 million donation honors the legacy of philanthropist Joan H. Gillings, who passed away in 2021. Her family has chosen to endow a student-athlete scholarship and the women's lacrosse head coach position, support facility renovations for women's golf, tennis, and basketball, establish the Nutrition, Wellness & Mental Health Endowment, and ensure each women's team has at least $1 million in their operating endowments.

Susan Gross, one of Joan's children, explained the family's decision: "Ninety-six percent of our mom's lifetime giving was to Carolina," she said. "My brothers and I said, 'Let's just keep rooting her giving and her spirit here, where it's already established.' Mom had already touched public health, the sciences and the arts. Athletics was that last pillar that we saw as her legacy."

The gift aims to sustain UNC's success in women's athletics while supporting teams needing additional funding. It allows coaches to focus on developing athletes without financial concerns. Erin Neppel, Carolina rowing head coach, expressed gratitude: "We are immensely grateful for the Gillings family and their gift to our program," she stated.

Joan's family hopes this investment will not only celebrate student-athletes but also inspire them beyond college sports. Susan Gross emphasized this vision: "It's not just about trophies... Hopefully this gift can impact them... They won't play sports forever, so how do we make them better people and ready for what comes next?"

The donation has already positively impacted mental health services for athletes through the Mental Health and Performance Psychology (MHPP) program. Anika Yarlagadda from the women's tennis team shared her experience: "MHPP at UNC to me was just as or more important than the physical training we had to do as athletes."

This investment is creating opportunities for growth both on and off the field for women student-athletes at Carolina. The foundation hopes it will inspire others to contribute similarly.

To learn more about supporting Carolina Athletics, visit ramsclub.com.