Allegheny’s athletic facilities are getting another upgrade thanks to a $1.5 million donation from alumni. The gift was announced by the college on July 23 and the update is set to be completed by 2025.
The gift comes from Kevin Baird, ’84, and Lisa Fiedor Baird, ’84. Vice President for Institutional Advancement Matthew Stinson explained that the Bairds have an extensive history when it comes to donating to the college.
“The gift itself has been a long-term function of their relationship with the college,” Stinson said.
The donation comes after a series of major gifts last academic year, including a combined $21 million from Allegheny College trustee emerita Patricia Bush Tippie, ’56, and an anonymous donor for the renovation of Brooks Hall and Reis Hall. The college also announced a $14 million gift from three multi-generational alumni families for the renovation of Quigley Hall as well as an endowed fund for faculty-led undergraduate research.
President Ron Cole, ’87, explained that this series of major donations — totaling around $80 million over the last two years — happens when one donation inspires another, creating a domino effect.
“Allegheny College is fortunate to have alumni and friends of the college willing to invest in our future financially,” Cole said. “Within that, we’re very fortunate to have donors willing to take that first step — to be among the first, the lead donors to invest in these priorities. What that has done has inspired other donors.”
Stinson explained that all of these recent gifts are part of the Strategic Pathway established by Cole and that each of the gifts fulfill a need set forth by the college.
“(Alumni) are wanting to help in ways that we’re asking for help for — that’s very different than donors directing what the college should be doing,” Stinson said. “We’re not responding to donors based on their wishes; it’s more of a matchmaking process.”
The upgrades to the Robertson Athletic Complex fall under Goal 2 of the Strategic Pathway, which aims to create a “vibrant and inclusive campus” where “an engaged and fun experience and inclusive culture will be hallmarks of Allegheny for students, faculty, and staff,” according to the Office of the President’s website.
“One way that we can bring about a more vibrant and inclusive campus is addressing some of the facility needs in athletics,” said Bill Ross, director of athletics and recreation.
Ross explained that the current football facilities at Robertson were built in the 1940s, and that improving the space opens the door to improvements in other athletic facilities.
The renovations will include new coach’s offices and locker rooms for the football team along with a meeting room for alumni and prospective students, according to Allegheny’s announcement.
Academic improvements
Stinson explained that, while the football program is the recipient of the latest major gift, many sports have seen improvements over the past few years, or will see improvements in the near future, with more donations to be announced this fall.
The David V. Wise Center added the Norm A. Sundstrom Walk of Fame to its lobby last year, highlighting the accomplishments of Allegheny athletes through the decades. The women’s basketball locker room, men’s and women’s tennis facilities and baseball facilities have also undergone improvements thanks to alumni donations.
“This is a continuation of investments that have been taking place, almost every sports program — men and women — have seen generous donations and facility upgrades at no cost to our students; these are alumni-driven and alumni-funded,” Stinson said.
He added that, while the pace of major gifts is unique to Cole’s tenure, Allegheny has a long history of positive relationships with alumni.
“Allegheny alumni, family, friends have a very long philanthropic history of supporting institutions,” Stinson said. “I truly believe it’s more than a marketing slogan— this is a college that changes lives, and our alumni go off into the world and they’re extremely successful, and they don’t forget where they came from or the transformational experiences that they had.”