Weaving Together Eight Years of Giving Day Support: Judy and Larry Boppe, ‘64 and Addie Nash Crabtree, ‘22
Ellie Joyce, Assistant Director of Development, Communications
5/21/2026
Every spring, University of Richmond’s UR Here Giving Day weaves together generations of supporters around the world in a shared celebration of Spider pride and philanthropy. Few loyal Spiders embody this spirit more fully than longtime supporters Judy and Larry Boppe, ’64 and recent alumna Addie Nash Crabtree, ‘22, who have participated in all eight UR Giving Days since the initiative began in 2019. These three Spiders share a deep commitment to giving back and helping create meaningful opportunities for Richmond student-athletes. Athletics is more than a game-day tradition to them. It’s a lasting connection, built through friendships and a commitment to ensuring future student-athletes and Spider alumni can create valuable memories together.
Judy and Larry Boppe are a proud Spider family, and many of their most cherished memories center around cheering on the Spiders together. Their love for the University of Richmond was initially inspired by Larry’s time as a student and grew into a fervent devotion to the University and its athletic programs. When Larry was a student at Richmond, he volunteered his time in many ways and continued to do so after graduation. The foundation Larry built during his time on campus has carried into the shared enthusiasm both he and Judy bring to Spider Athletics.
Judy and Larry have spent their time traveling across the country to watch football, basketball, men’s golf, and women’s golf, frequently with family and friends. The relationships that have blossomed from Richmond and Spider Athletics are special to them, as Judy and Larry have felt fortunate to meet some of their closest friends through Spider Athletics. They are grateful for sharing so many special memories with friends and family while being a part of Spider Nation.
Their connection to Spider Athletics has also become a family tradition. Their grandson, Carter Cook, ‘22, later went on to become a student-athlete on the Spider men’s golf team. When Judy and Larry learned that Carter would attend Richmond to play golf, they were overjoyed.
Their annual participation in Giving Day has become another Spider tradition that reflects not only their love for Spider Athletics but also their belief that consistent support helps create transformational experiences for Richmond student-athletes.
Part of why Judy and Larry are so invested in Spider Athletics is because the student-athletes at Richmond find a great deal of success in both the classroom and on the playing field. They reflect on the culture of each team and how it makes a difference when you can connect with the student-athletes and coaching staff, which is often a unique experience at schools like Richmond.
Judy and Larry’s support for Athletics extends far beyond their steadfast attendance at games. In addition to their longtime generosity to Spider Athletics, they have also participated in each of the University’s eight consecutive UR Here Giving Days since the initiative began in 2019.
“You give money where your interests, where your happiness, and where your heart is,” said Larry.
That same spirit of gratitude and connection continues with a new generation of Spider alumni like Addie Nash Crabtree, ‘22, whose experience as a field hockey student-athlete inspired her own commitment to giving back. Like Judy and Larry, Addie sees Spider Athletics as a community worth investing in.
Addie was a field hockey captain while at Richmond and has remained an active member of the Spider Athletics community. In fact, her family is full of deep Spider connections– including her husband, Connor Crabtree, ‘22, GC ’23, a former men’s basketball student-athlete at Richmond, as well as Addie’s sisters, Emma Nash Miller, ’20 and Annie Nash, ’25, both of whom were field hockey student-athletes.
Addie describes choosing to play field hockey at Richmond as the best choice for her, because of her family ties to the University and her passion for her sport.
“I saw the fun my older sister was having, wanted to jump in on it, loved the great combination of the high sports caliber and also the academics, so it kind of ended up being the perfect fit,” Addie explains.
Addie’s college experience was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the resilience and dedication she and her teammates showed during that time created some of the best memories together. Addie explains that amid all the challenges that came with navigating sports during that unprecedented season, the team came together to train and compete hard. She remembers this time after the pandemic with her team warmly, adding that the best part about the unconventional season was the team bonding so closely and experiencing new challenges together.
For Addie, some of the most impactful experiences as a student-athlete were developing relationships and connecting with other Spider student-athletes. Addie talks about how strong the Spider web is post-graduation, as she currently works with a fellow former Spider student-athlete, amongst all the other connections she has made over the years.
“The Spider web keeps growing”, Addie said. “Beyond our immediate family, I feel like I could run into a fellow Spider athlete somewhere and just pick up where we left off. We had that connection [as Spider student-athletes]. We’ll always have that connection.”
Addie says that sports have helped her learn to accept criticism and channel feedback to help her continue to grow professionally.
All of Addie’s experiences as a student-athlete at Richmond inspire her generosity to give back to Spider Athletics. While Addie first participated in Giving Day as a student-athlete, continuing that support as a young alumna has allowed her to stay connected to the program and invest in future generations of Spiders.
“I think, for me, it's really important to give back to the people and the places that have gotten me to where I am today, and I definitely think Richmond had a big part in my life so far.” Addie continues, “I feel like I have so much to be appreciative of.”
She also describes how important it is for her to continue to make her impact as an alumna of the field hockey team, and to help the current team continue to improve in any way she can. For Addie, this means showing up for the current team in and out of season, and on UR Here Giving Day.
“Knowing that you have alumni who are in your footsteps, and they're willing to pour back into you, almost inspires them to do the same thing,” says Addie enthusiastically.
Addie’s advice to the current student-athletes follows this simple, yet meaningful, sentiment. “Be the alumni you wish you had now,” she reflects.
From alumni who first fell in love with Richmond decades ago to young graduates deepening their own connection to the University, Spider Athletics offers everyone the opportunity to be a part of the web. Together, the stories of Judy and Larry, and Addie represent the powerful reach of the Spider community across generations. Their shared commitment to participating in all eight UR Here Giving Days demonstrates how philanthropy strengthens Spider Athletics year after year.
Their support helps provide resources, opportunities, and experiences that shape today’s student-athletes while also inspiring future generations of Spiders to stay connected long after graduation. Through their generosity and love for Richmond, these devoted Spiders are helping ensure the future generations of student-athletes can build the same friendships, memories, and opportunities that have meant so much to them.
