MACOMB, Ill. – The name may be changing but the organization and mission statement is still the same. The Western Athletic Club Advisory Board voted unanimously in their November 2009 meeting to officially change the organization's name to the Leatherneck Club.

In summer 2009 all of the Western Illinois teams unified their nickname to the Fighting Leathernecks. With the move, the Advisory Board discussed bringing name and branding unification to the Athletics Department's main fund raising organization, which works in conjunction with the Western Illinois University Foundation.

“With both the men's and women's teams now known as the Fighting Leathernecks, the Advisory Board thought it was appropriate to bring the organization under the same name. Though the name may be changing to the Leatherneck Club, the organization's core principles will not,” said Leatherneck Club President Mike Nichols. “The Leatherneck Club's main purpose continues to be a representative organization which will be concerned with broadening the scope of fund-raising and promotion for the Western Illinois University Athletics Department.”

The Western Athletic Club first merged with the women's sports programs fund raising staff in 1986. Since then, the Western Athletic Club has supported the University's 20 NCAA Division I sports programs with scholarship dollars for student-athletes, in addition to facility improvements so as to continue the department's philosophy of recruiting standout coaches and student-athletes.

All contributions from any source, by gift, bequest, money or property in trust to be used either the principle or the income there from goes to support the Leatherneck Club. For more information on the Leatherneck Club or to become a member, contact Associate Athletics Director Dwaine Roche at (309) 298-2602.

Preparation for the 2010-11 fund drive is underway, and according to Roche student-athletes will be on the phone calling current members to thank them for their support.

“We are excited for the upcoming annual fund drive. A portion of our annual Leatherneck Club funds raised go towards scholarships and travel needs for student-athletes, so the Advisory Board thought it would be a great idea to have our student-athletes reach out to our donors and tell them thanks,” said Roche. “Leatherneck Club brochures are in the mail for renewals, and student-athletes will begin calling our current members in the near future. The Athletics Department would like to thank all of their current members for their continued support and our goal is to raise a record amount of funds for 2010-11.”