Dan Gilbert announces $15 million donation to Michigan State University

MSU alumni Dan, Jennifer Gilbert announce donation Wednesday

DETROIT – Michigan State University alumni Dan and Jennifer Gilbert on Wednesday announced a $15 million donation from their family foundation to Michigan State University.

The donation will support a new addition and renovation of the Breslin Center, where the Michigan State basketball team plays its home games.

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The money will also support two programs -- the Detroit Scholars Program and the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.

The DSP provides academic support and scholarships for Detroit-based students attending MSU, including those who are the first in their families to attend college or who have come from academically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Michigan State enrolled 109 Detroit Promise Scholars in the 2016-17 academic year, the inaugural year of the program. The money will provide funding to enhance counseling and support services for students from Detroit.

The RCPD works with nearly 2,000 students each year at MSU to find solutions to the challenges that people with disabilities face in higher education, making the campus accessible to those who are visually impaired or deaf, have mobility challenges, learning disabilities, chronic health or mental health conditions or are on the autism spectrum.

"Michigan State has played a large role in both of our lives, and we are honored to support the university. Coach (Tom) Izzo and (athletic director) Mark Hollis have built Spartan basketball into one of the nation’s premier programs," Gilbert said. "Additionally, it is important that students of all backgrounds, including young Detroiters, realize their maximum potential and are exposed to the opportunities that higher education provides."

The donation is one of the largest in MSU’s Empower Extraordinary campaign, which has raised more than $1.26 billion since 2011 to support global problem-solving research, endowed faculty positions, enhanced facilities and student opportunities.

"The Gilberts’ gift reflects their understanding of MSU’s deep commitment to being accessible to all deserving students. Their generosity will help us continue to build and maintain a vibrant campus community and also allow our athletic programs to train and compete at the highest level," said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. "We are so grateful to Dan and Jennifer for their support -- the impact of which will extend far beyond MSU, to all of the people who come from far and wide to visit the Breslin Center or to become a Spartan."

The Breslin Center addition, a $20 million project, involves construction of a new box office, the Tom Izzo Hall of History and, for the student-athletes and coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the addition of the Draymond Green strength and conditioning center, a hydration station, lounges for players and recruits and an alumni locker room.

"Dan and Jennifer are great Spartans, and their gift is a perfect example of leaders making an investment that will transform MSU," Hollis said. "Decades down the road, we will look back at this campaign, at this time in our history and be so grateful to people like the Gilberts for helping us create a vision for what MSU can be. It doesn’t happen without significant private support, and we are so grateful."

Hollis said that, upon completion, the upgrades to the Breslin Center will make it one of the nation’s finest basketball complexes that will play a key role in recruiting future student-athletes.

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About the Author:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.