“It was the perfect first memory of Rutgers,” he said. “When I graduated, a group of friends decided to make it a priority to get season tickets, tailgate, and support the team going forward. I haven’t missed many games since.”

He hasn’t missed an opportunity to upgrade his support of the program, either. Season tickets and donations to R Fund – Rutgers Athletics’ development and fundraising organization – had Stathis firmly invested in the Scarlet Knights. In 2019, the Rutgers grad was one of the first to join “The Bells Must Ring” fundraising campaign, which launched this year in support of the department’s athletic scholarships and operating costs.

The campaign is predicated on strength in numbers directly impacting student-athletes’ success “On the Banks,” and Stathis is proud to be on the ground floor.

Stathis knows the importance of professional advancement during college years. He was involved in student development at Cook College and the Cook Douglass Rec Center, and was able to network, learn and flourish with likeminded colleagues. Working in the recreation department provided the opportunity to grow and be mentored by influential staffers like Dean Ed Levy and Paul Fischbach.

A decade out of his cap and gown with a degree in environmental business and economics in tow, Stathis is now the principal and owner of Firefly Lighting, LLC. On the side, he is active in foreign policy advocacy, working with Congress on legislation for community and state issues. 

Throughout his professional life, fundraising and networking are key. He sees a stark similarity in the success of “The Bells Must Ring” initiative.

“It’s about people supporting people,” he said. “Not just the student-athletes, but also one another as financial supporters of the program. We want to get people used to donating. Just like in sports, we’re up against the competition, and we don’t have the reputation or culture of fundraising. I see that’s changing now.”

Whereas fundraising dollars will remain integral in R Fund's efforts, the campaign's focus has shifted to increasing donor participation. Athletic scholarships, the Big Ten Champions Fund, the Department of Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships, and team-specific accounts have become the primary benefactors of fundraising. The goal will be to grow the total donor count to R Fund on an annual basis in support of Rutgers Athletics' operating costs. The endgame is to help more than 600 student-athletes at Rutgers ring the bells at Old Queens, a tradition reserved for celebrating the apex of academic and athletic achievement. 

Stathis, being a wrestler at a younger age, had a special connection to the last time the historic bells at Old Queens rang through the campus. In March 2019, Rutgers wrestlers Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano rang the bells after claiming the program’s first two national championships. Stathis liked the sound of that.

“Everyone pours in their love and sweat, but the best of the best win,” he said. “We can see great performances, but when you’re able to be on the top of the podium and they announce your name along with Rutgers University, it’s the pinnacle of what we’re doing here. What can we do to keep that going?”

The answer is to get involved. 

“It doesn’t matter what you give, it’s the fact that you’re invested in supporting the program by giving back whatever you can,” said Stathis, whose goal is to eventually give to each of Rutgers’ 24 programs. “That’s what we have to do to make a difference.”