News 2009

Tom Golisano Donates $4 Million to Ave Maria University to Fund Construction of Field House

Donation to Fund the Creation of University's First Indoor Athletic Facility

Tom Golisano Cutting the Ribbon at Ave Maria University field HouseAve Maria, FLNovember 5, 2009 – Ave Maria University (AMU) Chancellor, Thomas S. Monaghan, announced today that AMU has received a four million dollar donation from B. Thomas Golisano to fund the construction of the University’s first indoor athletic facility, the Tom Golisano Field House.

“On behalf of the entire AMU community, we are extremely grateful to Mr. Golisano for his tremendous generosity,” Monaghan said.  “Any donation of this magnitude is obviously extremely significant, but given what this gift enables us to do as a university, it is particularly meaningful at this time in our development.”

Following Monaghan’s announcement, Golisano explained the reasons behind his decision to make this personal donation.

 

“I am pleased to contribute to this exciting new endeavor at Ave Maria University,” said Golisano. “The new field house will be an integral part of the University’s future growth and vitality. Athletic programs, sport teams, wellness activities and clubs help to round out the college experience for students and their families and more importantly, keep young minds engaged and healthy.”

“The initial priorities for the campus facilities focused on the university’s spiritual and academic components,” Monaghan continued. “Upon the completion of these facilities and our newest mega-dorm this past summer, with our current and projected growth, this field house has been our number one priority.  The entire University community is humbled and quite frankly ecstatic over this contribution.  The Tom Golisano Field House will provide an incredible venue for furthering the physical development of our athletes, as well as a space for general student recreation."

The Tom Golisano Field House will be located just north of the Bob Thomas Student Union and construction, upon receipt of county permitting, is expected to begin in January 2010. Its current design calls for the field house to provide spectator seating for approximately 1,000 people, a court area for basketball or volleyball, locker rooms with shower facilities for home and visiting teams, coaches’ offices, and a training and weight room; there is also space in the field house designated as an additional storage facility.. 

About Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University (AMU) was founded in 1998 as Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Mich., to provide a liberal arts education in the Catholic tradition. In 2002 the college relocated to a temporary campus in Naples, Fla., and added graduate level programs, as it became Ave Maria University. In 2007 the university relocated to its permanent campus in Ave Maria, Fla.  Founded on the principles of the apostolic document Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Ave Maria University is dedicated to the advancement of human culture, the promotion of dialogue between faith and reason, the formation of men and women in the intellectual and moral virtues of the Catholic faith, and the development of professional and pre-professional programs in response to local and societal needs. The university has attracted students from 49 states and more than 25 foreign countries.

 

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