HUA Funds ‘Echoes of Crimson’ Gala to Raise Revenue for Club Sports

The Harvard Undergraduate Association approved $10,000 in funding on Sunday for “Echoes of Crimson,” a March gala set to spotlight club sports and address financial shortfalls across recreational student athletic teams.

The semi-formal event — scheduled for March 5 in Annenberg Hall and spearheaded by HUA Finance Team members Jake A. Marino ’29 and Polina Krumkachev ’29 — is expected to feature representatives from more than 25 of Harvard’s 51 recognized club sports along with alumni, parents, faculty, and students.

Marino and Krumkachev said they organized the gala to spotlight the role club sports play in supporting student connection and well-being.

“The reason that we’re doing this is to celebrate club sports’ impact on our community,” Krumkachev said. “It definitely promotes holistic student wellness and balance.”

“Echoes of Crimson” will include live performances by the Krokodiloes and Opportunes — two prominent campus a cappella groups — alumni networking spaces, and roundtables facilitating conversations between students and club sport leaders.

Marino said he hopes inviting the Krokodiloes and Opportunes will help attract donations from their alumni communities.

“They also have prestigious alumni networks that will hopefully donate a lot of money to us,” Marino said.

HUA co-president Abdullah Shahid Sial ’27 said the event is designed to help alleviate ongoing financial strain on club sports.

“As of right now, many of them are underfunded, and we feel it’s a good manner in which to distribute and collect funds,” he said.

The HUA has often been unable to meet funding requests from club sports, which can be demanding due to travel expenses, according to HUA co-president Caleb N. Thompson ’27.

“Unfortunately, our budget is not able to cover some of the trips that they’re taking to different states,” Thompson said.

Thompson added that the gala will offer alumni an opportunity to connect with current undergraduates and campus life outside of reunions, which take place every five years. He said the name “Echoes of Crimson” is meant to evoke nostalgia and strengthen ties between current students and graduates.

“I think that there’s a lot of desire for alumni to be engaged, especially right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in being part of the Harvard community.”

HUA leaders said the primary source of revenue will come from online donations through a link that went live on Friday and will remain open for two weeks following the event. Attendees who are not directly affiliated with Harvard will be charged a $15 entry fee, and QR codes linking to donation pages will be displayed throughout the venue to maximize contributions.

For Marino and Krumkachev, the event is deeply personal. Marino said he participates in three club sports, and Krumkachev is a member of Harvard’s women’s varsity tennis team.

“It’s a cause that’s very near and dear to Jake and I’s hearts,” Krumkachev said. “We cannot emphasize enough how helpful sports are for physical and mental well-being of the student population, and it’s also another great way to create pathways for alumni engagement and networking.”

—Staff writer Theresa F. Bartelme can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at theresabartelme.15. Follow her on X @theresabartelme.

—Staff writer Alma T. Barak can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at almabk.54. Follow her on X @almabk_.