DENVER -- It started as way to make a point about American Indian mascots that they considered racist. But now, the "Fightin' Whites" intramural basketball team has touched off such a craze that they raking in the green and they're passing it on to fellow minority students.

On Wednesday, the group of American Indian and white students who make up the Fightin' Whites, gave a $100,000 check to endow several scholarships at the University of Northern Colorado.

Jeff VaniWarden and Charles Cuny, two UNC seniors who are preparing to be teachers, presented the award.

The group raised the money by selling T-shirts bearing the "Fightin' Whites" name and team mascot -- a 1950s-style caricature of a middle-age white man. Their slogan was "Every thang's gonna be all white."

After getting national media attention, the team's shirts and various other merchandise such as hats and mugs, were popular items.

The team added the phrase, "Fighting the use of Native American stereotypes," to the shirts that were being sold online to keep white supremacists from using them.

Of the $100,000 check, $79,000 will go to a scholarship for American Indian students, $10,000 for an endowment for American Indian students, $10,000 for Hispanic/Latino students and $1,000 for African-American students.

The team has already presented a check for $1,500 to the Asian/Pacific American Student Services for the Aloha Scholarship for Hawaiian students.

The group was formed last year after members asked officials at nearby Eaton High School to change the school's mascot from "Fighting Reds" because the name was offensive.

When the school refused, members of the intramural basketball team decided to get even, and now they're getting the last laugh.

To purchase "Fightin' Whites" merchandise, visit the team's Web site at FightingWhites.org