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$6.8 Million Raised for Athletics Facilities
Posted 11/1/2006
The University of Hartford has exceeded its Home Field Advantage athletics fields project fundraising goal, with $6.8 million raised to date. In doing so, the University also met the requirements for a $700,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation.
In order to receive the Kresge Foundation challenge grant, the University needed to raise in excess of $2.7 million in the 18 months prior to Oct. 1, 2006. The prestigious Kresge challenge grants are made to charitable organizations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and France. On average, grants are awarded to only 30 percent of applicants.
Construction is essentially complete on Phase I of the Home Field Advantage (HFA) project, which has involved the renovation of an existing soccer and lacrosse field (Al-Marzook Field), the relocation and construction of a softball field, and the construction of a baseball field.
“Reaching our HFA goals is a real tribute to our donors, who came from all segments of the University community: regents, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends,” said University President Walter Harrison. “What they all have in common is that they love the University and appreciate the role athletics plays in young people’s lives. The Kresge Foundation Challenge spurred us all to give to this campaign and build our capacity for future fundraising efforts. Generations of University students—and youth from throughout the Hartford community—will benefit.”
More than 800 donors have given to the HFA project, with the majority (47 percent) coming from alumni. There were 36 members of the Circle of Commitment (gifts of $25,000 or more), led by Tom and Suzy Reich of West Hartford, who pledged in excess of $2 million.
The University broke ground on the HFA project in April 2005, and by the fall of 2005, soccer games were being played on the renovated Al-Marzook Field. The baseball and softball fields opened this past spring. The final stage of Phase I will be the addition of a press box on Al-Marzook Field and the installation of a press box and bleachers on the baseball and softball fields. Phase II of the project, to include a track surrounding an all-purpose field, is in the planning stages.
“The completion of the HFA project opens a new chapter in the history of our institution and its athletics and wellness programs,” said Director of Athletics Pat Meiser. “Not only will the fields provide quality opportunities for our student-athletes, but they will allow us to engage all students, faculty and staff, alumni and the Greater Hartford community in ways we’ve never been able to do before.”
In order to receive the Kresge Foundation challenge grant, the University needed to raise in excess of $2.7 million in the 18 months prior to Oct. 1, 2006. The prestigious Kresge challenge grants are made to charitable organizations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and France. On average, grants are awarded to only 30 percent of applicants.
Construction is essentially complete on Phase I of the Home Field Advantage (HFA) project, which has involved the renovation of an existing soccer and lacrosse field (Al-Marzook Field), the relocation and construction of a softball field, and the construction of a baseball field.
“Reaching our HFA goals is a real tribute to our donors, who came from all segments of the University community: regents, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends,” said University President Walter Harrison. “What they all have in common is that they love the University and appreciate the role athletics plays in young people’s lives. The Kresge Foundation Challenge spurred us all to give to this campaign and build our capacity for future fundraising efforts. Generations of University students—and youth from throughout the Hartford community—will benefit.”
More than 800 donors have given to the HFA project, with the majority (47 percent) coming from alumni. There were 36 members of the Circle of Commitment (gifts of $25,000 or more), led by Tom and Suzy Reich of West Hartford, who pledged in excess of $2 million.
The University broke ground on the HFA project in April 2005, and by the fall of 2005, soccer games were being played on the renovated Al-Marzook Field. The baseball and softball fields opened this past spring. The final stage of Phase I will be the addition of a press box on Al-Marzook Field and the installation of a press box and bleachers on the baseball and softball fields. Phase II of the project, to include a track surrounding an all-purpose field, is in the planning stages.
“The completion of the HFA project opens a new chapter in the history of our institution and its athletics and wellness programs,” said Director of Athletics Pat Meiser. “Not only will the fields provide quality opportunities for our student-athletes, but they will allow us to engage all students, faculty and staff, alumni and the Greater Hartford community in ways we’ve never been able to do before.”
