Greg & Anna Brown Give $4M Toward Football Locker Room at 50-Yard Line Celebration
Aug 30 | Football, General
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Aug. 30, 2018) – Moments after the announcement of their $4 million gift to benefit the renovation of the Rutgers football locker room, Greg and Anna Brown accepted the 1869 Legacy Award, the most distinguished honor bestowed at Thursday evening's fifth annual 50-Yard Line Celebration at HighPoint.com Stadium.
The award recognizes supporters who have made a lifetime impact on the lives of Rutgers student-athletes through generosity, involvement and commitment. In the building adjacent to the evening's marquee event, the Brown Family's most recent generosity will prominently aid in the construction of a new, best-in-class locker room in Rutgers football's Hale Center, while also moving the needle to the $99 million mark for the Rutgers Big Ten Build campaign. With this gift, the Brown Family has granted a total of $7.5 million to Rutgers' Big Ten Build.
"What makes it special is that we remain true to who we are," Mr. Brown said upon accepting the 1869 Legacy Award. "When we decide to do something, we're all in. We have the right people in charge here to make it happen. We're passionate about the cause and we believe in the people. It's in that spirit that we rally around you. We subscribe to the philosophy that when it's all said and done, it's about what you've given away and the impact you make.
"We are climbing the mountain, and you don't need to see the whole mountain to take the first step," Brown said. "Let's continue to lock arms, stack hands, punch forward and invest in this University with tradition, roots, inclusion, history and Jersey pride."
The Browns were introduced by Director of Athletics Patrick Hobbs, who delivered a Rutgers Athletics State of the Union address, finishing with the announcement of the Brown's game-changing commitment. A common theme throughout the AD's speech was the impact that those in attendance have upon past, present and future Scarlet Knights.
"Greg and Anna Brown flipped the script for this evening with a surprise commitment, and we vow to keep the momentum rolling for our Scarlet Knights," Hobbs said. "We are incredibly grateful for their family's leadership. This is a game-changer for our program.
"You hear our student-athletes' stories, you know what Rutgers University is all about," Hobbs continued. "We are writing the greatest chapter in Rutgers Athletics history because of our donors. We seek to instill pride in every citizen of New Jersey. The foundation is being built day-by-day."
A 1982 graduate of Rutgers' Livingston College with a degree in economics, Mr. Brown is the Chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions, a data communications and telecommunications company spun off from Motorola Inc. in 2011. Mr. Brown, who has worked in telecommunications for three decades, was appointed by former President George W. Bush to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee in 2004, and is a former member of President Barack Obama's Management Advisory Board and Skills for America's Future Board.
He is a dedicated supporter of Rutgers football and the University's groundbreaking academic research departments. In 2009, he pledged $2.5 million to name the Brown Football Recruiting Pavilion & Welcome Center at HighPoint.com Stadium. In 2012, Greg was honored by Motorola with a $1.5 million gift to endow the Gregory Q. Brown Chair in Cell Biology & Neuroscience at Rutgers.
Brown's wife, Anna, is the granddaughter of Henry and Anna Starr, who founded the Rutgers University Psychological Clinic in 1929.
A pair of the current Scarlet Knights – baseball's Carmen Sclafani and rowing's Sarah Johanek were in attendance and delivered comments of appreciation and gratitude to the group. Sclafani is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and baseball's slugging leader from the 2018 season. Johanek won a gold medal with the United States U23 women's coxed four this summer, following a First Team All-Big Ten honor in the spring. Both shared the stage with the emcee of the evening, Chris Carlin, the radio voice of Rutgers football and WFAN sports journalist and radio host.
"Growing up in a family like mine, it was Rutgers all the time," Sclafani said. "I want to say thank you. We rarely get the chance to say that. It means so much to us, to have people give to see us succeed. Before I graduate, I will have seen the Fred Hill Training Complex, the Marco Battaglia Football Training Complex, the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, and the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center be built before my eyes. It's unbelievable. It motivates us to make you proud."
"Not one school stood out to me more than Rutgers because of the wide range and high caliber of the academic opportunities and rigorous competition in the athletic department," Johanek said. "Your generosity sparks a new motivation to reach new heights and accomplish the previously unthinkable. We can't thank you enough for helping turning our college journey into something unique."
Among the evening's speakers was head football coach Chris Ash, who provided an update on the team and previewed the upcoming season. The campaign kicks off on Saturday afternoon against Texas State at 12 p.m. in the "War Before the Shore," also live on the Big Ten Network.
Guests for the signature event included Scarlet Society members, All-America level donors, Rutgers coaches, administrators, student-athletes and IMG sponsorship partners. It was again the largest gathering of supporters in the running five-year history of the event.
The 50-Yard Line Celebration is presented by R Fund, Rutgers Athletics' annual giving program and development department. The goal of R Fund is to provide student-athletes with the support they need to reach their full potential; as students, as athletes, and as individuals. The financial contributions of donors help R Fund advance the mission of Rutgers Athletics and give student-athletes the resources they need to compete. Follow @R_Fund on Twitter, visit their website, and read more about R Fund in their ScarletKnights.com feature story.
(8/31/2018) 50-Yard Line Celebration 2018
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter/Instagram (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
The award recognizes supporters who have made a lifetime impact on the lives of Rutgers student-athletes through generosity, involvement and commitment. In the building adjacent to the evening's marquee event, the Brown Family's most recent generosity will prominently aid in the construction of a new, best-in-class locker room in Rutgers football's Hale Center, while also moving the needle to the $99 million mark for the Rutgers Big Ten Build campaign. With this gift, the Brown Family has granted a total of $7.5 million to Rutgers' Big Ten Build.
"What makes it special is that we remain true to who we are," Mr. Brown said upon accepting the 1869 Legacy Award. "When we decide to do something, we're all in. We have the right people in charge here to make it happen. We're passionate about the cause and we believe in the people. It's in that spirit that we rally around you. We subscribe to the philosophy that when it's all said and done, it's about what you've given away and the impact you make.
"We are climbing the mountain, and you don't need to see the whole mountain to take the first step," Brown said. "Let's continue to lock arms, stack hands, punch forward and invest in this University with tradition, roots, inclusion, history and Jersey pride."
The Browns were introduced by Director of Athletics Patrick Hobbs, who delivered a Rutgers Athletics State of the Union address, finishing with the announcement of the Brown's game-changing commitment. A common theme throughout the AD's speech was the impact that those in attendance have upon past, present and future Scarlet Knights.
"Greg and Anna Brown flipped the script for this evening with a surprise commitment, and we vow to keep the momentum rolling for our Scarlet Knights," Hobbs said. "We are incredibly grateful for their family's leadership. This is a game-changer for our program.
"You hear our student-athletes' stories, you know what Rutgers University is all about," Hobbs continued. "We are writing the greatest chapter in Rutgers Athletics history because of our donors. We seek to instill pride in every citizen of New Jersey. The foundation is being built day-by-day."
A 1982 graduate of Rutgers' Livingston College with a degree in economics, Mr. Brown is the Chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions, a data communications and telecommunications company spun off from Motorola Inc. in 2011. Mr. Brown, who has worked in telecommunications for three decades, was appointed by former President George W. Bush to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee in 2004, and is a former member of President Barack Obama's Management Advisory Board and Skills for America's Future Board.
He is a dedicated supporter of Rutgers football and the University's groundbreaking academic research departments. In 2009, he pledged $2.5 million to name the Brown Football Recruiting Pavilion & Welcome Center at HighPoint.com Stadium. In 2012, Greg was honored by Motorola with a $1.5 million gift to endow the Gregory Q. Brown Chair in Cell Biology & Neuroscience at Rutgers.
Brown's wife, Anna, is the granddaughter of Henry and Anna Starr, who founded the Rutgers University Psychological Clinic in 1929.
A pair of the current Scarlet Knights – baseball's Carmen Sclafani and rowing's Sarah Johanek were in attendance and delivered comments of appreciation and gratitude to the group. Sclafani is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and baseball's slugging leader from the 2018 season. Johanek won a gold medal with the United States U23 women's coxed four this summer, following a First Team All-Big Ten honor in the spring. Both shared the stage with the emcee of the evening, Chris Carlin, the radio voice of Rutgers football and WFAN sports journalist and radio host.
"Growing up in a family like mine, it was Rutgers all the time," Sclafani said. "I want to say thank you. We rarely get the chance to say that. It means so much to us, to have people give to see us succeed. Before I graduate, I will have seen the Fred Hill Training Complex, the Marco Battaglia Football Training Complex, the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, and the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center be built before my eyes. It's unbelievable. It motivates us to make you proud."
"Not one school stood out to me more than Rutgers because of the wide range and high caliber of the academic opportunities and rigorous competition in the athletic department," Johanek said. "Your generosity sparks a new motivation to reach new heights and accomplish the previously unthinkable. We can't thank you enough for helping turning our college journey into something unique."
Among the evening's speakers was head football coach Chris Ash, who provided an update on the team and previewed the upcoming season. The campaign kicks off on Saturday afternoon against Texas State at 12 p.m. in the "War Before the Shore," also live on the Big Ten Network.
Guests for the signature event included Scarlet Society members, All-America level donors, Rutgers coaches, administrators, student-athletes and IMG sponsorship partners. It was again the largest gathering of supporters in the running five-year history of the event.
The 50-Yard Line Celebration is presented by R Fund, Rutgers Athletics' annual giving program and development department. The goal of R Fund is to provide student-athletes with the support they need to reach their full potential; as students, as athletes, and as individuals. The financial contributions of donors help R Fund advance the mission of Rutgers Athletics and give student-athletes the resources they need to compete. Follow @R_Fund on Twitter, visit their website, and read more about R Fund in their ScarletKnights.com feature story.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter/Instagram (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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