Schwan’s $5.5M gift largest in SMSU history
Foundation announces $5.5M for athletics & recreation dome
Photo by Deb Gau SMSU Vice President of Athletics Travis Whipple, Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation Vice-Chair Jim Polejewski, Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation Secretary Thresa Zaske, and SMSU President David Jones announced the contribution of $5.5 million to the university to support the development of an indoor athletics facility.
Image courtesy of SMSU Concept art shows the interior of an athletics and recreation dome planned at the SMSU campus. University officials said the facility would offer year-round sports and recreation opportunities for students and the community.
Photo by Deb Gau SMSU Vice President of Athletics Travis Whipple, Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation Vice-Chair Jim Polejewski, Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation Secretary Thresa Zaske, and SMSU President David Jones announced the contribution of $5.5 million to the university to support the development of an indoor athletics facility.
Image courtesy of SMSU Concept art shows the interior of an athletics and recreation dome planned at the SMSU campus. University officials said the facility would offer year-round sports and recreation opportunities for students and the community.
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MARSHALL -- The Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation announced a historic gift to Southwest Minnesota State University during Friday's State of the University Address. The foundation is committing $5.5 million to SMSU for the development of an indoor sports and recreation dome.
"It is my great pleasure to announce the largest gift in the history of the university," said SMSU President David Jones.
Theresa Zaske, community relations manager at CJ Schwan's Company and secretary of the Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation, said the $5.5 million gift was a continuation of the relationship between the foundation and the university.
"There are moments in this work when you really feel the weight of what a foundation can do. This is one of those moments for me," Zaske said. "Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation has had a long relationship with Southwest Minnesota State University, just as the company whose name we carry has been part of this community for generations. Those relationships have been built over many years by a lot of people, and it means something to be able to continue that history in such a significant way."
Foundation representatives and SMSU officials shared concept art for the dome facility, which showed it in a location on the north edge of campus, in an area used for football practice fields.
Zaske said the Southwest Minnesota Indoor Sports and Recreation Dome would not only give SMSU students more opportunities for athletics and recreation, but would also offer space for community events.
"What excites us about this project is that it isn’t only about a building. It’s about creating opportunities for SMSU students, certainly, but also for young people, families, and communities throughout Southwest Minnesota," Zaske said. "A year-round space for recreation, athletics, wellness, camps, tournaments, walking, and community events can become a regional asset in a part of the state where facilities like this are not easy to come by."
"We believe strongly in Southwest Minnesota. We believe in SMSU’s role here, and we hope this investment helps create something that serves people across the region for years to come," Zaske said.
"Today is just a great day to be a Mustang," said Travis Whipple, vice president for athletics at SMSU. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am, and what an impact this will have on our region, on our community, on SMSU and all Mustangs. There are so many amazing opportunities in this new space."
Whipple said a feasibility study estimated a sports and recreation dome and indoor track could bring in 250,000 to 300,000 visitors a year. The facility would offer opportunities for SMSU intramural activities, as well as serving as an important resource for student athletes.
"When we think about our student athletes, right now they're on spaces or areas that are not what they're accustomed to competing on," Whipple said. "So, getting them in the right space, like turf or a true track on the indoor side of things, is a game changer."
Jones said the gift from Schwan's showed an important connection to SMSU and the area community.
"An investment like this should leave no doubt that Schwan's is an important part of who we are. We couldn't be more thrilled to be the recipient of that gift, to continue to make our community even better," he said.
SMSu officials the $5.5 million commitment from the Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation represents a significant portion of the dome project's fundraising goal. At the same time, additional philanthropic and community support will be needed to complete the project.