UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 36, Page 1
July 9, 1992
Kresge Foundation grant supports Carpenter Center

     The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Mich., has made a $350,000 grant
toward construction of the $20 million Bob Carpenter Center on the
Newark campus, University of Delaware President David P. Roselle
announced June 30.
     The center is scheduled to open this fall.
     "The University is extremely pleased and grateful for this
generous gift, and we will be working in the months ahead to take
maximum advantage of it," Roselle said. "The Kresge Foundation has
made a challenge grant as an incentive for donors to contribute this
summer and fall.
     "For example, the fall football season will provide great
exposure for the new facility, and we hope to take full advantage of
the opportunities for support that are associated with the Kresge
Foundation challenge and the excitement surrounding the opening of the
center," Roselle said.
     More than $5 million of the $6.5 million private fundraising goal
has been raised to date for the Bob Carpenter Center, located just
south of Delaware Stadium near the intersection of South College
Avenue and Christina Parkway.
     Thus far, the state has provided $10 million of a total
commitment of $12 million to the project, and the final contribution
of $2 million is anticipated this year, Roselle said.
     The Bob Carpenter Center will be the new home of Fightin' Blue
Hens football and men's and women's basketball, providing the campus
with 134,378 gross square feet of space for athletic facilities,
offices, meeting rooms and an arena with a seating capacity of more
than 5,000 for basketball and up to 5,800 for convocation ceremonies.
     A variety of multi-purpose features have been designed into the
building to enable the University to schedule entertainment and
cultural events, as well as banquets and conferences.
     The center will house the offices of the director of athletics
and the football and basketball programs, the Sports Information
Office, the Sports Medicine Program, a weight training room, locker
room facilities for stadium and arena events, and the game and
practice floors for Blue Hen basketball.
     In addition, the concourse lounge, home of the Bob Carpenter
Club, has a panoramic view of Delaware Stadium and the arena.
     The Carpenter Center is named in honor of the late R.R.M. (Bob)
Carpenter Jr., a longtime trustee and benefactor of the University who
played a key role in building the stature of Delaware's athletic
program, with its emphasis on success in the classroom as well as on
the playing field.
     The Kresge Foundation is an independent, private foundation
created by the personal gifts of Sebastian S. Kresge. It is not
affiliated with any corporation or organization.
     At the time of the June 1992 grant announcements, the foundation
had awarded 86 grants in 1992 for a total of $34,098,400, and it will
continue to make new grant commitments during the balance of the year.
     In 1991, the foundation reviewed 796 proposals and awarded grants
totaling $62,989,400 to 174 charitable organizations in 36 states and
the District of Columbia. Five grants were made in areas outside of
the United States.
     Grants are made to institutions operating in the areas of higher
education, health and long-term care, arts and humanities, social
service, science and the environment and public affairs.
     Grants are made toward projects involving construction or
renovation of facilities and the purchase of major capital equipment
or real estate. Most grant recipients have raised initial funds toward
their respective projects before requesting foundation assistance.
     Grants are then made on a challenge basis, requiring the raising
of the remaining funds, thereby ensuring completion of the projects.