EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – A busy week for Michigan State University continued on Friday as the university made a major announcement — a $401 million commitment that will help transform the school’s athletic department.
President Kevin Guskiewicz announced Friday morning that Greg Williams and his wife, Dawn, have made the largest financial commitment in the school’s history.
Made through the university’s “Uncommon Will, Far Better World” campaign and in support of MSU Athletics’ FOR SPARTA initiative, it is not only the largest single commitment in the history of MSU, but one of the largest single amounts in college athletics history.
“Their generosity will dramatically transform Spartan Athletics and fuel academic excellence across multiple disciplines, reinforcing MSU’s mission to empower students and serve communities across Michigan and beyond,” MSU officials said in a press release.
Friday’s historic announcement on the Breslin Center floor comes days after the hiring of Pat Fitzgerald as the new head football coach and the announcement of “FOR SPARTA,” a $1 billion fundraising initiative.
Of the total commitment, the school says $290 million will be used in support of the FOR SPARTA initiative. Officials say the gift “will accelerate MSU’s ability to compete nationally and build a sustainable foundation for long-term success, while putting college athletics on notice that Michigan State has the resources to be an industry leader.”
News 10 is livestreaming the news conference in the player above.
Williams, an East Lansing resident and longtime significant MSU donor, is the founder of Acrisure — whose name is on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ stadium.
Williams said Friday not a single dollar of the gift will come from Acrisure.
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Hours before introducing Fitzgerald as the new coach on Tuesday, MSU officials shared digital renderings of a “re-imagined Spartan Stadium,” including a new East Tower with a “diversity of premium seating options and year-round functionality.”
The school also shared renderings of an updated Breslin Center and plans to renovate other athletics facilities on campus.
“FOR SPARTA sets a bold course for the future of Michigan State Athletics,” MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz said, per a press release. “By investing in world-class facilities and experiences for our student-athletes, we are positioning MSU to lead in an increasingly competitive landscape. This initiative reflects our commitment to modernize our athletics program and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have on Spartans today and for generations to come.”
School officials say the initiative will give MSU athletics the strategic resources for facilities and overall program investment to compete at the highest levels.
In modernizing facilities throughout the department, officials say MSU is “providing student-athletes the optimal spaces in which to compete and train, and the Spartan community an elevated gameday experience.”
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