Green light for UW-Green Bay,
Kress Center

Groundbreaking in late 2005. Occupancy by fall 2007. That's the timetable as the drive for a long-awaited, first-class student sports and events center nears realization at UW-Green Bay.

The green light came last month when a generous naming-rights gift from the George F. Kress Foundation pushed fundraising past the threshold to start construction. The University will name the facility the Kress Events Center.

The project calls for the renovation and expansion of UW-Green Bay's Phoenix Sports Center at a total cost of $32.5 million. The undersized, bare-bones center opened in 1976 and has never been renovated or upgraded to address fitness and recreation needs.

Plans for the Kress Events Center include a central area with a seating capacity in the range of 3,000 to 4,000 as the home court of the women's basketball and volleyball teams. The central area will also be home to campus events such as summer orientation, commencement, student career fairs, festivals, concerts and multicultural activities.

Chancellor Bruce Shepard addressed his personal thanks to John Kress, president of the George F. Kress Foundation, and to James Kress and his wife, Julie. George Kress — James' father and John's grandfather — was the founder of Green Bay Packaging Inc. and a longtime supporter of education and other community causes.

John Kress said the family and foundation were impressed by the commitment to the project displayed by students, the state and other Green Bay area donors. "The early and consistent support of UW-Green Bay students and the commitment from the state and other donors show how much this project is needed," he said.

Students have provided $15 million for the project through higher fees. Gov. Jim Doyle and the state Legislature's pledge of an additional $7.5 million was contingent on the University matching that amount in private gifts before 2005.

Campaign isn't done yet

Reaching the $7.5 million mark in private donations sets construction in motion, but UW-Green Bay will continue to work toward its target of $10 million in community support to top off its new student sports and events center. "There are many more donors who we will ask to join the team to reach our final goal," says Chancellor Bruce Shepard. Solicitation of major gifts continues, and the "grass-roots" portion of the campaign is expected to begin later this year. UW-Green Bay alumni, Phoenix fans and University friends will be offered additional opportunities to participate through a bricks and/or locker sponsorship drive. Steve Swan, assistant chancellor for university advancement, is the contact at (920) 465-2074.

Academics will be 'Phase II'

Facing a state-appointed deadline to raise matching private money for facilities, University fundraisers and friends concentrated their efforts on the student sports and events center. In reality, that project is only the first phase of the larger "Campaign for UW-Green Bay," a multi-year capital campaign to raise more than $20 million. Student scholarships, named professorships, endowed chairs and related academic enhancements will be the focus.

New facility at a glance

• Total cost: $32.5 million

• Funding sources: UW-Green Bay students ($15 million in student fees over course of the project), various community donors ($10 million), state of Wisconsin ($7.5 million)

• Improves and expands Phoenix Sports Center, which opened in 1976

• Central area with seating capacity of about 4,000

• Main playing surface to be home court of women's basketball, volleyball teams

• Auxiliary court to be practice court for men's basketball team, site for student recreational activities

• New and improved facilities for running, racquet sports, intramural sports, cardiovascular and aerobic activities, and swimming and diving pools

• Site for campus events such as commencement, orientation, student career fairs, festivals, multicultural activities

• Projected opening in fall 2007

• Private funds still needed to complete project as planned: about $2 million

Spotlight shines on donors of $100K and up

Green Bay and its hometown University celebrated a major campus and community achievement in January, having surpassed the $7.5 million fundraising threshold necessary to break ground on the Kress Events Center. Many of the lead donors or their representatives were present to be introduced before a crowd of nearly 4,000 at a Phoenix men's basketball game at the Resch Center. Posing for a "team photo" afterward were:

Front row, from left: Bob and Carol Bush; Sheri Prosser, Paul Schierl, Jim Schoshinski and John Hickey, Cornerstone Foundation of Northeast Wisconsin; Wendy Hanley, representing Festival Foods; Julie Long; Sarah Tebon, a UW-Green Bay student intern representing Schreiber Foods; Steve Warwick, Byron Walter Family Trust; and Diane Ford, Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.

Back Row, from left: Tom Lemorande, representing the Walter Cloud Foundation; Earl DeCloux, representing the Leon and Clymene Bond Foundation; Paul Beideman and Dennis Hogan, Associated Bank; D.J. Long; and Bob Weyers, Weyers Family Foundation.

Not pictured are the George Kress Foundation, Phil and Betsy Hendrickson, Leona Cloud, Jerry and Janet Gallagher, and the K.C. Stock Foundation.

Drive finds support from all corners

The community drive for a new student sports and events center didn't get to the $7.5 million green-light level, and won't reach its ultimate goal of $10 million, without a broad base of support.

"If we are able to get people to visit the (existing) Phoenix Sports Center," says Steve Swan, assistant chancellor for university advancement, "they recognize the need and are willing to help."

The result, says Swan, is a campaign notable for the involvement of the business community and individual donors "from virtually all corners of the community."

While leadership gifts from the Kress and Bush families for major naming rights are most visible, more than 60 donors have signed on thus far, with more to come. Of these initial pledges, at least 16 have topped $100,000.

"It shows the depth of the community's support for UW-Green Bay," says Swan. "Not to single anyone out, but just for example, we have a young couple like D.J. and Julie Long making their first major University gift, and people like Leona Cloud and her family, who have been strong supporters since the 1970s. That's gratifying."

A campaign committee led by Tom Olson and Ginny Riopelle deserves credit, and many also praise Mike Meeuwsen, who volunteered his time over the last year as a special campaign assistant.

"We couldn't have done this without him," Swan says. "He opened some very important doors in this community. In many cases it was his enthusiasm for the project that made the difference in bringing others on board."

Bushes back basketball

Leona Cloud: A proud alumna gives back

' Today, she wants to do something to improve campus life and recreation facilities for tomorrow's students at UW-Green Bay. The result is a generous six-figure gift that places her among the major donors for the University's new student sports and events center.

"Leona is a perfect example of someone who has made it her mission to help others," says Steve Swan, the University's assistant chancellor for advancement. "I know she's proud to be a graduate of this institution; we're proud to claim her."

Leona and her late husband, Walter Cloud, were supporters of UW-Green Bay from its earliest years. Walter was president of U.S. Paper Mills in De Pere, and he volunteered to serve as a director for the University's Founders Association philanthropic organization. She and her son, Bob, are active in management of the Walter Cloud Foundation. The foundation has also been active in its support of the University, including a gift for equipment in a Mary Ann Cofrin Hall distance-learning classroom, and a separate major gift for the new Kress Center project.

The Long view: Gifts boost community

The couple made a six-figure gift to the new student sports and events center. They also wrote into their will a scholarship fund for future UW-Green Bay students.

"We want to see the University succeed," says D.J., who is president of Century Drill & Tool Co., a Green Bay-based manufacturer and distributor of power-tool accessories. "As a business owner, I believe in what higher education does for a community."

While neither he nor Julie is an alumnus, their support of UW-Green Bay is a family tradition.

D.J. recalls helping drum up community interest in the Phoenix move to Division I in the 1980s and working on ticket drives alongside his father, Don, a Green Bay business and civic leader. At the time, the elder Long was also volunteer co-chair of the University's first capital campaign, raising seed money to develop student housing.

"I grew up in a family that emphasized 'giving back,' D.J. says. "When we see a cause or project we believe in, we want to contribute. Helping the University to develop and grow is something we believe in."