Welcome to Fundraising Friday: AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
University of Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione announced Monday the largest single fundraising commitment in OU athletics history. The $20 million gift from Brian and Kim Kimrey will be divided evenly between the Sooners' baseball and football programs. The donation marks the third gift pledged to OU’s baseball program by the Kimrey family, pushing their support for baseball stadium upgrades to over $15 million, according to the announcement on soonersports.com. Their major gift to the football program will support future Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium enhancements.
A former University of South Dakota football player Scott Jones and his wife Lisa have given Coyotes Athletics the largest private donation in program history at $5 million, athletic director Jon Schemmel announced Wednesday. As reported by the Midland Daily News, the football program is the primary beneficiary, with the gift endowing the offensive coordinator position and increasing the team's overall budget. Portions of the donation will be directed to the next phase of DakotaDome renovations, general athletic scholarships and other support for the athletic department.
Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., announced Tuesday a $1.5 million gift from alums Kevin Baird and his wife,Lisa Fiedor Baird to fund the new, 10,000-square-foot Robertson Athletic Complex. As reported by Erie Times-News, the new building will create new locker rooms and coach’s office for the Allegheny football program, plus an "expansive" meeting room which could host alumni events or visits from prospective student-athletes.
The Young Family Foundation of Waterloo, Iowa, has announced a lead gift of $400,000 toward a new training facility for the University of Northern Iowa's wrestling program. According to an announcement posted Monday at unipanthers.com, foundation director Mike Young said the project is vital to the future of UNI wrestling and that he hopes the donation will help spur additional support for the training facility. Conceptual plans include features such as weight and cardio training spaces, multiple wrestling mats, locker rooms and office space, as well as a rehabilitation room and training room.
Karma and Gary Mason have given a lead gift of $100,000 to support the Wichita State Women's Bowling facility enhancement project, the university announced last week. This $300,000 initiative will include a new locker room, conference room and offices for coaching staff inside the Rhatigan Student Center. Karma Mason was recruited to the women's bowling program at Wichita State in 1975, and the team went on to win the first-ever national collegiate team championship held that year. Since that first win, the Shockers have claimed a total of 11 Intercollegiate Team Championships.
Total amount of these gifts:
$27,000,000
