Indiana University Athletics
Shelly Schwarz Makes Major Gift to 'For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign' to Honor Her Late Husband in Support of the Indiana University Excellence Academy
6/7/2018 10:43:00 AM | Varsity Club
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass announced today a major gift by Shelly Schwarz in honor of her late husband, Joe Schwarz, supporting the IU Athletics Excellence Academy being constructed in the south endzone of Memorial Stadium. In recognition of her gift, the President's Suite in the Excellence Academy will be permanently named for them.
The Joe and Shelly Schwarz President's Suite will be located on the second level of the Excellence Academy adjacent to the Tobias Nutrition Center. Formerly located on the 7th floor of the Memorial Stadium press box, the suite will be utilized on home football games for hospitality and game viewing. The space will also be used for meetings and events throughout the year.
The Excellence Academy is a $53 million, 66,575-square foot facility which will enclose the south endzone of Memorial Stadium and create a bold new "front door" to campus for IU Athletics. The Excellence Academy is set for completion in the summer of 2018.
"We are extremely grateful to Joe and Shelly Schwarz for their generous gift in support of the IU Excellence Academy and for their longtime commitment to IU Athletics," said Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie. "The IU Excellence Academy housed within Memorial Stadium will be home to one of the most comprehensive, innovative and effective personal development programs in all of intercollegiate athletics and will enhance IU's ability to provide students with cutting-edge resources to help them achieve their academic, athletics and personal development goals."
Prior to this recent commitment, Joe and Shelly generously gave a similar major gift in October 2016 when they named the President's Suite in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"Joe and Shelly have been a part of the IU family for 40 years, and we are deeply moved and touched by this additional act of generosity and their years of support," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Joe is dearly missed by all of us who had the good fortune to know him. It is our privilege to be able to name the President's Suite in their honor."
Joe and Shelly's friendship with Indiana University began in the late 1970's – Joe was an avid fan and supporter of Indiana University Basketball and Shelly attended IU Bloomington. Born in Villa Maria in Cordoba, Argentina, Joe immigrated to New York City with his family at the age of 4. Joe began working at the age of 8 shining shoes to help support his family and continued doing odd jobs throughout grammar and high school. He went on to work his way through college at George Washington University where he earned a bachelor's degree and later a master's in business administration from American University. Shelly transferred to Purdue University where she earned her bachelor's degree.
Joe traveled quite a bit as a young man before settling in Indianapolis, where he made a career in real estate, specifically apartment and hotel development and ownership. At the time of his passing, Joe owned multiple properties in the Indianapolis area. Joe and Shelly spent the majority of their time together in Longboat Key, Florida. Sadly, Joe passed away on March 3, 2018, after a long battle with throat cancer.
"My husband, Joe, became the man he was through hard work, discipline and a good education," Shelly said. "He received much joy from attending IU basketball and football games and was especially proud of our naming of the Joe and Shelly Schwarz President's Suite at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. By honoring him with this gift, I want to continue to build on his legacy. Even though he was not a graduate of Indiana University, Joe always said, 'I made my money in Indiana and want to pay it forward to the people of Indiana.' IU and IU Athletics were always at the top of his list."
The Indiana University Excellence Academy will be the foundation of IU Athletics' promise to its students. It will offer them comprehensive support with the use of cutting-edge technology; protect their health, safety and wellness; maximize their athletic potential; help them develop leadership and life skills; and build a culture of trust and respect. The academy is a living embodiment of IU's Student-Athlete Bill of Rights – an environment where IU Athletics can serve its scholars in mind, body and spirit, while preparing them to be successful in life outside the university.
This gift counts toward the $3 billion campaign, For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in June 2020 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration. To learn more about the campaign, its impact and how to participate, visit forall.iu.edu.
The Joe and Shelly Schwarz President's Suite will be located on the second level of the Excellence Academy adjacent to the Tobias Nutrition Center. Formerly located on the 7th floor of the Memorial Stadium press box, the suite will be utilized on home football games for hospitality and game viewing. The space will also be used for meetings and events throughout the year.
The Excellence Academy is a $53 million, 66,575-square foot facility which will enclose the south endzone of Memorial Stadium and create a bold new "front door" to campus for IU Athletics. The Excellence Academy is set for completion in the summer of 2018.
"We are extremely grateful to Joe and Shelly Schwarz for their generous gift in support of the IU Excellence Academy and for their longtime commitment to IU Athletics," said Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie. "The IU Excellence Academy housed within Memorial Stadium will be home to one of the most comprehensive, innovative and effective personal development programs in all of intercollegiate athletics and will enhance IU's ability to provide students with cutting-edge resources to help them achieve their academic, athletics and personal development goals."
Prior to this recent commitment, Joe and Shelly generously gave a similar major gift in October 2016 when they named the President's Suite in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"Joe and Shelly have been a part of the IU family for 40 years, and we are deeply moved and touched by this additional act of generosity and their years of support," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "Joe is dearly missed by all of us who had the good fortune to know him. It is our privilege to be able to name the President's Suite in their honor."
Joe and Shelly's friendship with Indiana University began in the late 1970's – Joe was an avid fan and supporter of Indiana University Basketball and Shelly attended IU Bloomington. Born in Villa Maria in Cordoba, Argentina, Joe immigrated to New York City with his family at the age of 4. Joe began working at the age of 8 shining shoes to help support his family and continued doing odd jobs throughout grammar and high school. He went on to work his way through college at George Washington University where he earned a bachelor's degree and later a master's in business administration from American University. Shelly transferred to Purdue University where she earned her bachelor's degree.
Joe traveled quite a bit as a young man before settling in Indianapolis, where he made a career in real estate, specifically apartment and hotel development and ownership. At the time of his passing, Joe owned multiple properties in the Indianapolis area. Joe and Shelly spent the majority of their time together in Longboat Key, Florida. Sadly, Joe passed away on March 3, 2018, after a long battle with throat cancer.
"My husband, Joe, became the man he was through hard work, discipline and a good education," Shelly said. "He received much joy from attending IU basketball and football games and was especially proud of our naming of the Joe and Shelly Schwarz President's Suite at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. By honoring him with this gift, I want to continue to build on his legacy. Even though he was not a graduate of Indiana University, Joe always said, 'I made my money in Indiana and want to pay it forward to the people of Indiana.' IU and IU Athletics were always at the top of his list."
The Indiana University Excellence Academy will be the foundation of IU Athletics' promise to its students. It will offer them comprehensive support with the use of cutting-edge technology; protect their health, safety and wellness; maximize their athletic potential; help them develop leadership and life skills; and build a culture of trust and respect. The academy is a living embodiment of IU's Student-Athlete Bill of Rights – an environment where IU Athletics can serve its scholars in mind, body and spirit, while preparing them to be successful in life outside the university.
This gift counts toward the $3 billion campaign, For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in June 2020 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration. To learn more about the campaign, its impact and how to participate, visit forall.iu.edu.
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