GU Athletics Receives $5M Gift

The Georgetown Department of Athletics received a gift of $5 million, its largest ever, from Edward (C ’66) and Irene Shaw, Georgetown Athletics announced Friday.

Four million dollars will be used for the construction of the Intercollegiate Athletic Center, a facility for student athletes that was originally proposed as part of the 2000 Campus Plan. The building is expected to cost about $55 million.

“We are honored by the support of the Shaw family for their generous donation in support of our vision for the new athletic training facility and our championship men's and women’s soccer teams,” university spokeswoman Stacy Kerr said.

Men’s soccer Head Coach Brian Wiese expressed enthusiasm about the donation, stressing the importance of the new facility for athletics at Georgetown.

“The gift from the Shaws was a huge gift for the entire athletic department,” Wiese said. “[The new facility] should be the next major project on campus, we think, in terms of what the needs are and the IAC. That’s something that is certainly going to benefit us, but it will also benefit all of the other teams in the department.”

The remaining $1 million of the Shaws’ gift is earmarked for improving Kehoe Field, which will be renamed Shaw Field in honor of the couple’s contribution and support of the men’s and women’s soccer teams.

Wiese, who called the $1 million for the athletic field “terrific,” added, “Our ability to do things to enhance the atmosphere up at North Kehoe —  to make a proper home field with the advantages that should come with that — I think we at the moment are still pricing out what we can do with that.”

Edward Shaw expressed his belief in the importance of Georgetown athletics.

“Irene and I have always been firm believers in the value of intercollegiate athletics to gather our community, build school spirit and enhance the undergraduate experience —not only for the team members but also for their classmates and friends,” Shaw told Georgetown Athletics. “Our commitment reinforces this belief, along with the value of nationally competitive programs to enhance Georgetown University for now and years to come.”

 

Wiese said that Shaw’s donation is indicative of a trend toward greater philanthropy aimed at Georgetown’s athletic programs.

“We feel a lot of gathering momentum at the department and from a sports specific point of view,” he said. “The fact that we’re starting to get these kinds of donations from people I think says a lot about the direction that the department is heading right now and the excitement for Georgetown’s athletics as a whole.”

Hoya Staff Writer Ryan Bacic contributed reporting.