Looking Ahead: Our Goals for the 2025-26 Year

Written By Tyrel Clayton

As we begin a new year with the New England Gator Club®, I want to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and share where we’re headed next.

This past year was a big one. We hosted 49 events across New England, including football watch parties, museum visits, happy hours, professional networking panels, and more. Our Welcome to the Gatorhood event tripled in attendance. We returned to running our local scholarship program for the first time in five years. And thanks to the generosity of our alumni community, we raised $6,938, surpassing our $5,000 fundraising goal and helping three future Gators with $1,250 scholarships each.

None of this would have been possible without the work of our all-volunteer board, which now includes 11 active members from across the region. This team has poured time and energy into building a club that is welcoming, vibrant, and mission-driven. I’m incredibly proud of the momentum we’ve built together and excited about the year ahead.

Our Goals for 2025–2026

We’ve set four clear priorities for this fiscal year, all of which support our mission to connect Gators in New England and give back to the next generation.

🎓 Raise $8,500 for Scholarships

Scholarship fundraising remains at the heart of what we do. We’re aiming to raise $8,500 this year to support both our endowment and direct awards to incoming UF students from New England. You’ll see familiar fundraisers like raffles and a silent auction, along with new efforts during Gator Nation Giving Day and a spring fundraising event currently in the works.

🧡 Increase Event Attendance and Engagement

We’re proud of the events we hosted last year, but we also know we can grow. This year, we’re expanding the types of programming we offer and exploring new ways to bring people together. Some of the things we’re trying:

  • Monthly virtual career panels

  • New social events like Red Sox games, hikes, and fall foliage day trips

  • Participation in community-wide events like the Boston Marathon and Boston Pride Parade

  • A season-long canned food drive during football season

🤝 Expand Our Board

We’re currently recruiting for three key board positions:

  • VP of Professional Development: to lead networking and career-building events

  • VP of Collaborations: to organize joint events with UF affiliate groups and local SEC clubs

  • VP of Community Service: to manage and grow our volunteer initiatives

If you’ve been looking for a way to give back, get involved, or build leadership skills in a low-pressure, high-impact environment, I encourage you to reach out. We also offer mentorship and shadowing opportunities if you'd like to learn more before jumping in.

🐊 Grow UFAA Membership in New England

UFAA membership is the foundation that supports everything we do, from funding scholarships to expanding local perks for our alumni. This year, we’re doubling down on our commitment to make membership more valuable and more inclusive:

Whether you’re a longtime member or thinking about joining for the first time, we’d love to have you with us.

Get Involved

This club exists because of Gators like you—alumni, fans, families, and friends who care about this community and want to see it thrive. There are so many ways to support our mission this year:

If you’re interested in getting more involved, or just want to learn more, I hope you’ll reach out. Together, we can make this year our best one yet.

Go Gators!
Tyrel Clayton
President, New England Gator Club®

Tyrel Clayton
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