The gift will help Rider University move forward on a $17.7 million project to elevate its Alumni Gym into a modern NCAA Division I arena. So far, the school has raised $11 million from 112 donors and is 62% complete, with $6.7 million left to be raised.
“Now is the time for all of us to do everything we can to support Rider athletes, and the best way to do that is to invest in the arena project,” said one of the donors. “The project plans are fantastic, and we know just how impactful this facility upgrade will be for the entire University community. Now, more than ever, is the time for our fellow alumni and friends to do all they can to support this project in a significant way.”
The anonymous donors said they hope the gifts will inspire others to give so the project can be finished.
“We are incredibly grateful for this leadership gift,” Rider University President Gregory G. Dell’Omo said. “It will help us realize our vision of turning Alumni Gym into an arena and make athletic competitions there an even more enjoyable experience for both student-athletes and the spectators who cheer them on.”
In recent years, the facility received new flooring, lighting, a sound system and a video board as well as upgraded its locker rooms and team meeting and film rooms, and added coaches’ offices. The latest gift will add a center-hung scoreboard with a digital display, expand seating, create a new lobby and install more restrooms. It will also enhance the athletic training center, add a dedicated locker room for volleyball players and create a new $1.2 million strength and conditioning center for student-athletes.
