UT Alumni Association Plans New Glass Bowl Pavilion
By Sherry Stanfa-Stanley
The University of Toledo alumni are the heart and soul of the institution. The achievements of UT graduates have worldwide impact, from medicine to business to the arts and humanities.
Representing more than 115,000 graduates, the UT Alumni Association also serves as host for more than 200 events each year, both on campus and on the road.
The organization is seeking support to create the Alumni Pavilion, a unique place on Main Campus that will recognize the success of UT graduates while serving as an outdoor gathering location for pre-game tailgates and alumni activities.
The facility, projected to cost $700,000, will be built along the exterior of the Glass Bowl at the northwest corner of the stadium. Adjacent to the tailgate lots and next to the west entrance, the pavilion is expected to be the primary gathering spot for alumni pre-game activities as well as a place for campus groups and community organizations to meet for other events and activities throughout the year.
The 5,000-square-foot facility will feature the University’s traditional lannon stone construction, supported by columns symbolizing the solid foundation UT alumni provide the institution.
Each column will hold plaques recognizing Gold T, Blue T and Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alumni recipients, past Alumni Association presidents, and outstanding chapters and affiliates.
“As a replacement for the association’s current alumni tent, the pavilion will serve as a permanent location for pre-game tailgates and other outdoor activities,” said Dan Saevig, associate vice president for alumni relations.
The pavilion will be outfitted with food and beverage stations, as well as a sound system, he noted.
“We are asking the University’s alumni to help make this exciting new facility a reality through individual and corporate contributions,” Saevig said, “especially those at the $25,000, $10,000, $5,000 or $1,000 level, payable over a three-year period.”
Naming opportunities exist for donors who wish to make a special commitment to the project; these include naming the pavilion itself, a variety of special areas inside the facility, and 15 pillars supporting the structure.
The Alumni Association’s goal is to raise the necessary funding by June 1 with construction planned in time for the first home football game in September.
To make a contribution or to learn more about pavilion naming opportunities, contact Jeff Grilliot, UT major gifts officer, at jeff.grilliot@utoledo.edu or 419.530.5320 or Dan Saevig, associate vice president of alumni relations, at daniel.saevig@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4008.
