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Â鶹ÊÓƵ Washington, DC

Memorandum September 17, 2019

To:
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Community
From:
Sylvia M. Burwell, President
Subject:
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Receives $3 Million Gift to Launch New Era in Athletics

Â鶹ÊÓƵ is an extraordinary community of people whose dedication and generosity have shaped this institution. Today, I am proud to announce that Â鶹ÊÓƵ has received a $3 million leadership gift from a couple who have called Â鶹ÊÓƵ home for generations—Jack Cassell, SOC/BA ’77, current Board member and former Board chairman, and his wife, Denise.

With this generous gift, we will begin planning for a new Center for Athletic Performance, a state-of-the-art facility that will attract, support, and engage our community while helping our student-athletes and Patriot League champion teams reach new heights.

In the words of our Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Billy Walker, “The Center for Athletic Performance will be a catalyst for our future growth and success, and we are tremendously grateful to Jack and Denise Cassell for their extraordinary generosity. Jack literally grew up on this campus and has served Â鶹ÊÓƵ with distinction his entire life—from bat boy to student-athlete to Chairman of the Board of Trustees. This generous gift towards the Center for Athletic Performance builds on the Cassell Family legacy established by Stafford ‘Pop’ Cassell, Jack’s dad and ‘Father of Â鶹ÊÓƵ Athletics.’ This gift will impact our department for years to come and we can’t begin to thank Jack and Denise enough!â€

The Cassell family has a long philanthropic history at Â鶹ÊÓƵ and deep connections to both our Athletics program and to our students. They recognize how this facility will enhance the student experience while providing resources for the greater community, as well.

When speaking about this gift, Jack Cassell emphasizes his desire to support the future of our institution saying, “I believe strongly in the trajectory of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, and through this gift, my family and I want to ensure students who come to Â鶹ÊÓƵ have the same exceptional experience that we have had. We want them to find Â鶹ÊÓƵ to be a welcoming home, one that will also help them achieve more than they thought they could before.â€

The Cassell family is rooted in this university and its values. Jack’s father, Stafford Cassell, CAS/BA ’36, was an Â鶹ÊÓƵ coach, athletic director, and vice president. He saw the Â鶹ÊÓƵ community not simply as his workplace, but as a home for his family. Jack has continued this tradition, serving on Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Board of Trustees since 2003, and as chairman from May 2015 to May 2019. Jack is a passionate Â鶹ÊÓƵ Eagles fan, serving as chair of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Athletics Committee for six years. He and Denise are proud Â鶹ÊÓƵ parents of Jaqueline Cassell, SOC/BA ’14, and Devon Bradley, Kogod/BSBA ’14. In 2013, the university opened a new residence hall, named Cassell Hall, to honor $3 million in gifts from the family. Jack and Denise’s additional $3 million gift this year continues their philanthropic leadership on behalf of our students and Â鶹ÊÓƵ Athletics.

This gift builds momentum as we embark on our new Changemakers strategic plan. We are grateful to Jack and Denise Cassell for their steadfast support and their ongoing commitment to our community. They inspire us to excel, challenge us to fulfill our mission, and cheer our success. From Eagles everywhere to some of our most dedicated, thank you Jack and Denise!