PULLMAN, Wash. – In the inaugural Apple Cup Giving Challenge, a battle between Washington State University (Cougar Athletic Fund) and Washington's (Tyee Club) annual funds, the Cougars came away victorious in advance of the annual Apple Cup football game, presented by Boeing, Friday, Nov. 29.
 
Earlier this week, from Monday, Nov. 25 through Wednesday, Nov. 27, each university encouraged fans, alumni and donors to give a gift of $25 or more to their respective athletic annual fund. The school with the most $25 or more gifts was declared the winner. When the final count was tallied the Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF) tallied 1,163 gifts totaling $236,533, well ahead of the Tyee Club's 250 gifts totaling $55,633.
  
"Thank you to all the Cougar fans who stepped for the Apple Cup Giving Challenge," said Senior Associate Director of Athletics Mitch Straub. "In the state of Washington, this rivalry is sacred, and the Cougs answered the call in a big way. We are thrilled with the impact that this initiative creates for all of our student-athletes."
 
The monies raised by WSU through the three-day challenge will go to support student-athlete scholarships through the Unleash Excellence Fund, providing student-athletes with the resources to unleash excellence in the classroom and on the field of competition.
 
Cougars from all across the nation played a vital roll as gifts came in from 33 states during the challenge.