$2M Challenge Gift For Whyte T&F Center
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State Athletics has received a $2 million challenge gift in support of the second phase of the Whyte Track and Field Center that will be used toward the construction of grandstands, a press box, hammer throw area, scoreboard, main entry plaza and other amenities.
The gift was made by an anonymous benefactor who only recently came into contact with the Oregon State Track and Field program. According to the donor, the inspiration to make the commitment came after meeting some of the student-athletes and coaches at an intrasquad meet in November and quickly “making the connection that striving for one's best in athletics carries over to achieving excellence in so many aspects of life.”
It is the intention of the donor to “encourage others to do whatever they can to help in the completion of the Whyte Track and Field Center so that the vision of a total track and field program and the opportunities it will bring will become a reality.”
“This gift represents an incredible act of generosity that provides our track and field program with a great deal of momentum,” said Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis. “We are very grateful for this commitment and will work with urgency to ensure that the challenge is met.”
As part of the challenge gift, all previous commitments that had been made toward the second phase of the facility will be counted. To date, that includes more than $550,000 in cash and pledges. The total budget for the second phase is expected to be $4.5 million.
The Whyte Track and Field Center opened in September 2012 following a lead contribution from Jim and Luana Whyte. The scope of the initial project included an International Association of Athletics Federation certified Olympic-caliber polyurethane surface, FieldTurf infield, nine-lane track, dual high jump aprons, long jump, triple jump runways, pole vault and javelin runways, shot put throw sectors and discus rings.
“Since we opened the facility a year and a half ago, our goal has been to finish phase two so that we can host major Pac-12 and NCAA meets in Corvallis,” Oregon State Track and Field head coach Kelly Sullivan. “Words cannot describe how appreciative we are for this gift and the immeasurable impact that it will have on our current and future student-athletes.”
The deadline for making a gift or pledge toward the $2 million challenge is December 31, 2014, with construction scheduled to begin in spring of 2015. Donations of $25,000 or more may be paid over a five-year period.
Those wishing to support this exciting initiative with a tax-deductible gift of any size should contact Doug Oxsen at 541-737-7486 or doug.oxsen@oregonstate.edu. Any further questions in regards to the second phase of the facility can be directed to Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@oregonstate.edu.
