There’s nothing like the rush of filling a stadium in the cool, crisp autumn air with a sea of gold-wearing Mountaineers fans cheering “Let’s Go … Mountaineers.”
And the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties is ready to help you get back to that feeling of excitement — and normalcy — with this year’s Gold Rush T-shirt to benefit the WVU Student United Way Campaign.
Gold Rush shirts are now on sale at unitedway.wvu.edu/goldrush. The retro design features a WVU football helmet with the words “Gold Rush 2021: A rush like no other.” The design also comes on a new, softer T-shirt than years’ past, and the shirts themselves are made from 100% recycled material.
Grace Howell, a sophomore graphic design major at WVU, created the inspiration for this year’s Gold Rush shirt as part of a contest to design the tee. As the winner, she’ll receive a free T-shirt and a gift card.
Available T-shirt sizes range from XS to 4XL, but all the shirts sell for $15, regardless of size, plus shipping if ordering online.
This is the 14th year the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties has sold Gold Rush T-shirts, and as always, process from the sale benefit the WVU Student United Way Campaign. That campaign feeds into the 2022 United Way Campaign, which kicks off in the fall.
The annual campaign helps fund 39 programs at 26 health and human service agencies in Mon and Preston counties, as well as internal United Way programming, such as Helpful Harvest Food Program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, WV211 hotline, and the Family Resource Network.
During the annual Gold Rush games, WVU encourages all fans to wear gold. This year’s Gold Rush game is Sept. 18 and features a matchup between WVU and Virginia Tech. It’s the first time since 2005 that the Hokies will take on the Mountaineers. The winner of the matchup takes home the Black Diamond Trophy.
Because many games and other activities were canceled last year because of the pandemic, many fans are already prepping for gameday by snatching up the shirts.
“We’ve already sold Gold Rush shirts in Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, as well as West Virginia,” said Macall Speaker, director of development at the United Way. “People are really excited to get back to cheering on the Mountaineers, and what better way to do it than supporting the local community and its
people.”
To get your United Way Gold Rush T-shirt, visit unitedway.wvu.edu/goldrush.
Foam fingers featuring the Horns Down — an upside-down horn shape used to playfully poke fun at the University of Texas Longhorns’ symbol — are also being sold for $10 at student events. Proceeds from the foam finger sale also benefit the WVU Student United Way Campaign.
For questions about the T-shirts or foam fingers, email goldrush@mail.wvu.edu.
Amanda Posey is the director of marketing and communications for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. She can be reached at amanda@unitedwaympc.org.
