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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Craig Murden, 704 337-2485
murdenc@queens.edu
The Wachovia Foundation leads corporate sponsors
CHARLOTTE, N.C., January 28, 2005 — Queens University of Charlotte announced today during its Sports Complex Groundbreaking ceremony at Marion Diehl Park that it has received a commitment of $1 million from The Wachovia Foundation. The Bank of America Foundation and BellSouth Telecommunications have also made corporate commitments. In addition, Queens received two other individual commitments of $1 million each.
“I am very encouraged by the initial responses we have received from the corporate community for this project, and am certainly proud of the fact that The Wachovia Foundation has made a significant investment as well. It is important for the corporate community to join individual donors in supporting this project not only because it is good for Charlotte, but also because it provides a national model for successful public-private partnerships,” said Ben Jenkins, Wachovia’s Head of the General Bank and co-chair for the Sports Complex Campaign. Jenkins also serves as vice-chairman for Queens’ board of trustees.
The first phase of construction for the Queens Sports Complex will begin in the next 30 days, and will include a soccer/lacrosse stadium, a track and field complex, and an artificial turf field that can be accessed by persons with disabilities.
“We are delighted that this project continues to gain momentum and look forward to both our athletic teams and the community being able to use these facilities beginning with the fall season in 2005,” said Queens President Pamela Lewis. “The corporate community has really stepped up and helped fund this project in conjunction with a number of generous alumni and friends.”
"The last two months of 2004 really moved this fundraising effort into high gear," noted Patton McDowell, vice president for university advancement. "We had the generosity of Ed & Jan Brown, Irwin Belk, and Edwin & Lou Jones to get this project off the ground early in the year, and it is really rewarding to see their vision for the project become a reality."
To complete the second and third phase of the complex which includes a fieldhouse, baseball, tennis and softball facilities, the campaign committee will continue to seek another seven million in private support to finish the project before Queens’ Sesquicentennial in 2007.
The Groundbreaking ceremony took place at noon in Parker Hall at the Senior Center at Marion Diehl Park, and included representatives from the Mecklenburg County Commission and the Park and Recreation Commission, in addition to campaign co-chairs Jenkins and Krista Tillman, North Carolina president for BellSouth. Homeowners’ Association representatives from neighboring Selwyn Park and Madison Park were also in attendance.
For more information about the Queens Sports Complex, visit www.queens.edu/sportscomplex
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