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Rutgers facilities fundraising surpasses $50M with 3 major gifts
Ryan Dunleavy, @rydunleavy May 10, 2016
Asbury Park Press
PISCATAWAY - With a boost from the three largest donations in Rutgers athletics history, the $100 million Big Ten Build fundraising initiative launched in January already is past the halfway point.
While that total includes $25 million in state government-approved tax credits that must be applied for by July 1, private contributions – which historically are not easy to secure at Rutgers – account for another $29.3 million, the school announced.
"If anybody sort of looks at this and says, ‘I don’t think they are going to get it done,’" athletics director Pat Hobbs said at a Tuesday news conference, "I don’t think they are reading this the right way. And that’s why we’re excited about this."
Gifts totaling more than $11 million were provided by Greg Brown, Rutgers Board of Governors chair and Motorola CEO, and his wife, Anna; real estate developer Steven Plofker and makeup mogul Bobbi Brown; and business leaders and philanthropists Jeff and Amy Towers.
Previously, Brown reportedly donated $2 million to the recruiting pavilion at High Point Solutions Stadium that bears his name.
MORE: Air conditioning sign of things to come at Rutgers
"They care about Rutgers. That’s what has come through," Hobbs said of the three couples.
"With all those folks, I didn’t have to put a number in front of them. This was a time where they wanted to reach ... for Rutgers University. They do that not just because they understand the importance of their commitment to what we’re doing, but they want to inspire others to do the same thing."
By comparison, Rutgers athletics reported a record $14.7 million in contributions during fiscal 2015. That amount still pales in comparison to the Big Ten elite powers, which led to skepticism when announced his ambitious fundraising goal.
MORE: Get to know the 3 couples who made the biggest gifts in Rutgers athletics history
Yet, among the 923 donors to the facilities campaign, there have been 10 gifts of more than $1 million and 71 of more than $25,000. Hobbs said 10,000 donors, including those at the $10 level, are needed to be considered a success.
"This is moving now," Hobbs said. "This train is rolling along the track, and with this level of support in a mere 15 weeks, we’re very confident that we’re going to be able to get the full support that we need for this."
Some of those high-level donors are people who never gave to athletics before, according to Rutgers officials, and thus bleeding dry the same reliable pool of names can be avoided.
MORE: Rutgers wrestling, football join forces for unique doubleheader
"About 90 percent of the support to date is to the multi-sport facility," Hobbs said referring to the soon-to-be-built facility that serves as a basketball practice arena and a new home for wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics.
"That facility is not just important for the benefits that it provides our programs, but it’s our signal that we are going to be competitive, we are going to compete in the Big Ten and we are going to compete in the Big Ten to win championships."
Since his hiring in December, Hobbs has made two major hires and altered the facilities vision laid out in a Board of Governors-approved plan from last June. He also finally put into action the installation of air conditioning at the Rutgers Athletics Center – two years after it was first approved.
In addition to the new multi-purpose arena – Hobbs envisions an "iconic structure" – Phase I of the Big Ten Build includes a lacrosse, soccer and tennis training complex and an enhanced football-only Hale Center. Later phases call for renovating the facade of the RAC and creating a plaza outside of it.
MORE: Rutgers athletics: Student fees vs. student free tickets
“We'll continue to tweak to make sure it's the best plan possible," Hobbs said. "At the end of this, what we want to be able to say is that we did it the right way and we are at least competitive in the top half of the Big Ten."
The new men's basketball coaching staff publicized a summer groundbreaking date for the multi-purpose arena, though Hobbs pushed the timeline back. The design phase is in line for completion in the fall, he said.
"The renderings will be an important piece to that as we get forward," Hobbs said. "Seeing some dirt moved around there, whether by engineers or by concrete workers is going to be really important. We'll just keep moving. In time, the last skeptic will change and say 'I'm all in.'"
Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com
Ryan Dunleavy, @rydunleavy May 10, 2016
Asbury Park Press
PISCATAWAY - With a boost from the three largest donations in Rutgers athletics history, the $100 million Big Ten Build fundraising initiative launched in January already is past the halfway point.
While that total includes $25 million in state government-approved tax credits that must be applied for by July 1, private contributions – which historically are not easy to secure at Rutgers – account for another $29.3 million, the school announced.
"If anybody sort of looks at this and says, ‘I don’t think they are going to get it done,’" athletics director Pat Hobbs said at a Tuesday news conference, "I don’t think they are reading this the right way. And that’s why we’re excited about this."
Gifts totaling more than $11 million were provided by Greg Brown, Rutgers Board of Governors chair and Motorola CEO, and his wife, Anna; real estate developer Steven Plofker and makeup mogul Bobbi Brown; and business leaders and philanthropists Jeff and Amy Towers.
Previously, Brown reportedly donated $2 million to the recruiting pavilion at High Point Solutions Stadium that bears his name.
MORE: Air conditioning sign of things to come at Rutgers
"They care about Rutgers. That’s what has come through," Hobbs said of the three couples.
"With all those folks, I didn’t have to put a number in front of them. This was a time where they wanted to reach ... for Rutgers University. They do that not just because they understand the importance of their commitment to what we’re doing, but they want to inspire others to do the same thing."
By comparison, Rutgers athletics reported a record $14.7 million in contributions during fiscal 2015. That amount still pales in comparison to the Big Ten elite powers, which led to skepticism when announced his ambitious fundraising goal.
MORE: Get to know the 3 couples who made the biggest gifts in Rutgers athletics history
Yet, among the 923 donors to the facilities campaign, there have been 10 gifts of more than $1 million and 71 of more than $25,000. Hobbs said 10,000 donors, including those at the $10 level, are needed to be considered a success.
"This is moving now," Hobbs said. "This train is rolling along the track, and with this level of support in a mere 15 weeks, we’re very confident that we’re going to be able to get the full support that we need for this."
Some of those high-level donors are people who never gave to athletics before, according to Rutgers officials, and thus bleeding dry the same reliable pool of names can be avoided.
MORE: Rutgers wrestling, football join forces for unique doubleheader
"About 90 percent of the support to date is to the multi-sport facility," Hobbs said referring to the soon-to-be-built facility that serves as a basketball practice arena and a new home for wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics.
"That facility is not just important for the benefits that it provides our programs, but it’s our signal that we are going to be competitive, we are going to compete in the Big Ten and we are going to compete in the Big Ten to win championships."
Since his hiring in December, Hobbs has made two major hires and altered the facilities vision laid out in a Board of Governors-approved plan from last June. He also finally put into action the installation of air conditioning at the Rutgers Athletics Center – two years after it was first approved.
In addition to the new multi-purpose arena – Hobbs envisions an "iconic structure" – Phase I of the Big Ten Build includes a lacrosse, soccer and tennis training complex and an enhanced football-only Hale Center. Later phases call for renovating the facade of the RAC and creating a plaza outside of it.
MORE: Rutgers athletics: Student fees vs. student free tickets
“We'll continue to tweak to make sure it's the best plan possible," Hobbs said. "At the end of this, what we want to be able to say is that we did it the right way and we are at least competitive in the top half of the Big Ten."
The new men's basketball coaching staff publicized a summer groundbreaking date for the multi-purpose arena, though Hobbs pushed the timeline back. The design phase is in line for completion in the fall, he said.
"The renderings will be an important piece to that as we get forward," Hobbs said. "Seeing some dirt moved around there, whether by engineers or by concrete workers is going to be really important. We'll just keep moving. In time, the last skeptic will change and say 'I'm all in.'"
Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleavy@gannettnj.com