El Pomar gives CC a record $10 million

The El Pomar Foundation gave Colorado College $10 million, the largest single gift in the college’s 133-year history, the school and foundation announced Thursday.

CC President Richard Celeste said the grant will be used to improve El Pomarfunded facilities such as the El Pomar Sports Center and Tutt Library, and add new buildings.

About half the grant will also endow financial aid programs, including hockey scholarships, the El Pomar Scholars program and other funds for disadvantaged or minority students. A specific breakdown has not been determined.

Within the next “five or six years,” Celeste said he hopes a new health and fitness facility will take the place of Honnen Ice Arena, which is on campus, west of Cascade Avenue.

In one scenario, which Celeste called “the preferred plan,” the city and college would form a public-private partnership over the facility, which would have two ice sheets — doubling the capacity of the current Honnen facility — and be erected on Nevada Avenue between Cache La Poudre and Dale, where the Colorado College Inn sits.

As of yet, CC has not submitted formal plans to the city, said Tom Nycum, CC’s vice president of business and finance. In discussions with interim City Manager Mike Anderson and acting assistant city manager Paul Butcher, it was “agreed that we have the ability to do a feasibility study to provide a financial plan and create the initial look of the configuration of how the facility would fit on that half-block,” Nycum said.

Anderson and Butcher could not be reached for comment. The feasibility study is planned for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, and CC has not hired a consultant.

“We’re just too early in the process,” Nycum said.

The largest previous gift was $7.9 million in 2002 from the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust.

Helping a fundraising effort that began in 2004, the El Pomar gift brings CC’s total to $125.5 million of its $300 million goal for the Vision 2010 campaign.

“It’s an extraordinarily generous gift and it comes at a critical time as we are in the midpoint of our campaign,” Celeste said. “It addresses our needs from an athletic standpoint. . . . It’s a very exciting opportunity for us and tremendous opportunity for the community as well.”

Like the Cornerstone Arts Center, which is scheduled to open in 2008, Celeste said he hopes the planned health and fitness facilities, rinks and library improvements will further link the college and community, while continuing to attract the top students and athletes in the nation.

The first renovations are planned for the El Pomar Sports Center, which houses the athletic department offices, trainers’ area, two gyms, a weight room, climbing wall, racquetball courts, locker rooms and a turf room.

“We don’t have the space to accommodate the students, faculty and staff that are using our facilities now,” athletic director Ken Ralph said. “So this expansion is really vital for us to continue our growth as a school.”

From an intercollegiate athletics standpoint, Ralph said the capital-improvement plan will help CC, especially its Division I hockey and women’s soccer programs, stay competitive with bigger institutions.

“I don’t think you could overstate the importance,” Ralph said. “I really believe a quality facility is half the battle in recruiting.”

Founded in 1937, the El Pomar Foundation has given CC $39,619,363 through the years, more than any other recipient.

El Pomar’s largest grant was the $30.6 million that went toward construction of the World Arena, where the Tiger hockey team plays.

Since 1992, El Pomar has granted $3,625,000 to CC’s hockey program to support its scholarship fund and operating budget.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4803 or kate.crandall@gazette.com.