Michigan State University alumnus William Deary and his wife, Cherilyn, have made a $1 million gift to Michigan State University that will establish an athletics endowment, help fund a significant upgrade to the Breslin Center, and assist in completing the fundraising efforts toward the North End Zone Expansion of Spartan Stadium.
The donation is in support of Empower Extraordinary, the campaign for Michigan State University. The gift, made through the Spartan Fund, the fundraising arm of the athletics department, is the twentieth gift of at least $1 million to MSU Athletics since the start of the campaign in July 2011.
“The Dearys’ generosity reflects a deep commitment to our students and to our vibrant campus community,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said. “Such support helps us provide extraordinary experiences for students engaged in intercollegiate athletics.”
The Dearys founded Great Lakes Caring in 1994. Today the company is one of the largest providers of home health and hospice in the United States. Great Lakes Caring is nationally renowned as one of only eight home health and hospice companies in the nation recognized for “Top 50” clinical, operational and financial leadership excellence.
“Our desire for MSU Athletics is that it will continue its tradition of celebrating students, building programs and creating a foundation of success that fuels the American dream,” said William Deary. “As student-athletes transition from Michigan State into society, we believe their experience with MSU Athletics, including their focus, dedication and commitment to hard work, will help them become contributing members of our society.”
The Dearys are part of the Athletic Director’s Campaign Leadership Council, a group of leadership donors and campaign volunteers from around the country.
“We are so grateful to the Dearys for their investment in Spartan Athletics,” said MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis. “This campaign is about transforming MSU Athletics today, tomorrow and forever and this gift will touch all three.”
Through Empower Extraordinary, MSU Athletics seeks to raise $262 million in support of building championship-level facilities, increasing its endowment and elevating annual gifts. All gifts made through the Spartan Fund during the campaign count toward the goal to support MSU Athletics and its mission to “teach, celebrate and support (MSU) student-athletes in their quest for excellence.”
For more info on Empower Extraordinary and to philanthropically support MSU Athletics, please visit: www.msuspartans.com/spartanfund.