Welcome to Fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
The University of Southern California has announced a gift of $50 million from alum Ronald Bloom in support of USC athletics. As reported by Philanthropy News Digest, the gift from Bloom — founder of Crown Associates, a real estate and property management company — will fund construction of the Bloom Football Performance Center, a 163,000-square-foot training complex for the USC football team slated to open in 2026. The project is part of USC’s $200 million “moonshot,” an effort to upgrade and expand facilities for the school’s 23 athletics programs.
University of Maryland announced Tuesday that alum Stephen Schanwald, a trailblazing marketing executive with the Chicago Bulls, has committed a gift of $18 million to his alma mater — $10 million of which will directly support the Terps' athletics program that launched his career, as well as an additional $8 million earmarked for a new sports management program.
Longtime Kennesaw State University supporters Dave and Donna Walens have pledged $4 million toward KSU Athletics, the school announced Nov. 26. With the Walens' gift, Kennesaw State has secured $28.2 million of the $30 million goal for the Athletics Capital Campaign, which is a prominent component of the $200 million Campaign for KSU. That campaign, the most comprehensive fundraising effort in the university's history, is funding scholarships and support programs, strengthening multidisciplinary research initiatives, and expanding academic and athletic facilities.
Mississippi State Athletics received a $3 million gift from a family of long-time supporters of the university’s athletics program. As reported by CBS affiliate WJTV in Jacksonville, the contribution from this anonymous family will support the department’s State Excellence Fund, which is dedicated to enhancing student-athlete resources and providing athletic benefits in a highly competitive environment.
University of South Dakota director of athletics Jon Schemmel announced Wednesday that football alum Dr. John House has gifted the athletic department $5.6 million, the largest non-corporate donation in this history of USD Athletics. The gift will go to support the South Dakota football program operationally and for further athletic facility enhancements.
Total amount of these gifts:
$72,600,000
