What is the Varsity Club?

The Harvard Varsity Club was founded in 1886 and received not-for-profit 501 (C)(3) status from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1966. The mission of the Club is to preserve the traditions, foster the ideals and advance the interests of Harvard athletics through various activities. The Club serves as the link between graduates and current student-athletes. All Club activity is governed by a volunteer Executive Board and an Advisory Board The Club holds six meetings per academic year, including an Annual Meeting where new Executive Board members are officially voted into office.

Club activities may change slightly from year to year, but primarily focus on the following areas:

Publishing of News & Views , the sole sports-only newsletter that covers Harvard's 41 intercollegiate sports and other athletic news. News & Views is published approximately 10 times per year and is distributed to all members and a growing number of subscribers. To join the Harvard Varsity Club or to subscribe to News & Views , call 617-495-3535 or email us at hvc@fas.harvard.edu.

Sponsoring the annual Senior Letterwinners' Dinner. Held the night before Commencement, the Harvard Varsity Club and the Department of Athletics join forces to honor all major H recipients in the senior class. In recent years, over 600 guests have attended to witness the presentation of the major athletic awards, including the top male and top female athlete.

Selecting and inducting athletes into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Committee has the difficult task of determining Harvard's finest athletes to be inducted into the Hall of Fame each year at an elaborate dinner at the Harvard Club of Boston.

Subsidizing and distributing authentic Varsity Club Lettersweaters to student- athletes. Continuing a tradition that dates back to the first intercollegiate competition, the Varsity Club now presents each first-time major H recipient his or her lettersweater free of charge. Replacement sweaters (only available to major H recipients) are also available for sale for $85.

Maintaining a Career Service program for undergraduates and recent graduates. All Varsity Club members are welcome to tap into our growing resources.

The HVC also helps individual sports at Harvard, and their Friends groups, by arranging mailings, recording contributions, and organizing social events, from luncheons and dinners, to receptions, to trips for away games and tournament play. We supply administrative, financial, and publications support to the Friends groups of Harvard's varsity teams.