Alpha Xi boost FAMU's "Restore the Strike" campaign with $25,000 gift

Alpha Xi Gives, the philanthropic arm of the FAMU alumni members of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has contributed $25,000 to FAMU’s “Restore the Strike Campaign.” The donation marks a major step toward the initiative’s $250,000 goal, which is dedicated to providinSg the resources necessary to return the Rattler football team to a dominant force among NCAA FCS teams. The contribution is a direct investment in the vision of new head coach Quinn Gray and a broader effort that supports student-athletes.

“This commitment reflects both our support for the FAMU Football program's positive momentum and our conviction that sustained excellence in athletics is central to the broader FAMU experience,” said Alpha Xi Gives' Nelson Grillo in a statement.

The “Restore the Strike Campaign,” which runs through Jan. 31, 2026, is a targeted effort to address the fundamental needs of the football program. According to university materials, every dollar raised will be directly channeled into student-athlete scholarships, academic support, strength and conditioning, nutrition, equipment, travel, and overall program development.

“Restore the Strike is more than a campaign—it is a call to action to strengthen the heart of FAMU football,” the university’s call for support states. “This initiative is designed to restore excellence, elevate competitiveness, and provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed on and off the field.”

Alpha Xi leads the way

The Alpha Xi Gives gift provides a considerable jolt to the fundraising effort. To date, the campaign has raised $69,459 from 193 donors. The $25,000 donation from Alpha Xi Gives represents over a third of the total funds raised so far, demonstrating the powerful role organized alumni networks play in the health of HBCU athletic programs.  Since its inception, Alpha Xi Gives has raised over $800,000 for scholarships and other initiatives at FAMU.

According the FAMU Foundation website, the “Restore the Strike” campaign is not merely as a fundraising effort, but as an urgent appeal to fortify the very core of the Rattler football program. All contributions will be directed toward the football programs foundational needs: athletic scholarships, strength training, nutritional resources, equipment upgrades, and holistic program development. The broader aim, they note, is to uphold FAMU’s football legacy as a source of institutional pride and a testament to discipline and tradition within the landscape of historically Black colleges and universities and throughout collegiate sports.