Nate and Catherine Forbes' Generosity Drives Campaign Forward
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | General, Athletic News
By Christine MacLean
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Nathan Forbes (BA '85) and his wife Catherine have always given their support to the University of Michigan. The Varsity Tennis Center, the Museum of Art, the Health System, the Al Glick Field House, and Michigan Stadium have all been the beneficiaries of their generosity.
Now they are giving again to Michigan Athletics as part of the $4 billion Victors for Michigan campaign's vision of being "leaders and best." Their donation will be used to transform the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus, says Dave Brandon, U-M's director of athletics. These donations are critical because Athletics doesn't get funding from U-M's general fund or from the state.
Generosity from families such as the Forbes makes it possible for Michigan Athletics to remain one of only 22 self-sustaining athletic departments in the country while also providing the resources for student-athletes to compete at the highest level athletically and academically.
"Nate and Cathy's leadership gift will have a dramatic effect on our ability to move forward with our facilities construction and renovation plan and will positively impact the experience of our 31 teams and all of our 931 student-athletes," Brandon says. "Their support means so much to our coaches and student-athletes and to the future of our programs. We are so very grateful for all Nate and Cathy are doing to support our work at Michigan Athletics."
The facilities project consists of five interconnected buildings that will primarily service more than half of Michigan's student-athletes. This includes a men's and women's lacrosse stadium, indoor track, outdoor track, men's and women's soccer team building, and a team and performance center.
The team and performance center is expected to include strength and conditioning space, athletic training and medical areas, team locker rooms, coaching staff offices, private meeting space, and a rowing team center. The new facility will benefit many of the University's constituencies beyond the varsity athletes, including students who compete in recreational and club sports. For example, the rowing center that will be home to the varsity women's team will also be used by the men's club team.
"In today's highly competitive world, competition for students and student-athletes is fierce," says Forbes. "It is critical to the overall mission to have world-class facilities emanating from the classroom and continuing to the stadium. At Michigan, we are driving the vision of 'leaders and best' on all fronts."
Spike Albrecht, a junior on the men's basketball team, understands what it means to choose a school like Michigan. "Michigan is the best of both worlds. It not only has a historic sports program rich in tradition, it also has a reputation as one of the top academic universities in the world," says Albrecht.
"I knew coming to Michigan would be an unbelievable opportunity. It was a chance of a lifetime for me to fulfill not only my academic goals, but my athletic dreams, too. It was an easy decision to make." Albrecht, who is enrolled in the School of Literature, Science and the Arts, was instrumental in helping Michigan to its first outright Big Ten regular-season title in 28 years.
Forbes is managing partner of The Forbes Company, a nationally recognized developer, owner, and manager of luxury shopping destinations in Michigan and Florida, as well as vice-chairman of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
During his University of Michigan education, Forbes' real-life experiences inspired him to want to motivate people who shared his vision and philosophy. He supports the many efforts to help revitalize the city of Detroit and serves as chair on the U-M Greater Detroit Leadership Council for the Victors for Michigan Campaign. Among the generous donations Forbes has made to many U-M programs and departments is his sponsorship of events such as the Maize and Blue Go Pink, which raises awareness in the greater Detroit community as it raises funds for breast cancer research for the U-M Health System Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The experiences U-M offers shape today's students into tomorrow's leaders, says Forbes, whether those experiences are in academics, international study abroad, or in athletics. "It's inspiring to witness talented individuals work together as a team led by a strong belief in a core value system that places integrity and character ahead of other principles," says Forbes. He is particularly impressed by U-M men's basketball coach John Beilein, who, he says, "holds his program to the highest standards and believes that all his players must be held accountable at the highest level, both on and off the court."
That kind of integrity attracts student-athletes who are committed to success on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. Michigan Athletics recently completed its greatest academic year to date with six Academic All-Americans and 55 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
"That's a testament to the school and the leaders of those programs," says Forbes. In helping U-M achieve its vision to be "leaders and best" across the board, including its athletic facilities, the Forbes' gift will help ensure that U-M continues to attract the kind of student-athlete who internalizes Wolverine excellence and strives for it not only while at Michigan but throughout all of life.
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