PORTLAND, Ore. --- University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif., and a member of the University’s Board of Regents.
 
The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Portland athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.
 
The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season, Leykam notes.
 
“The new playing surface will have a huge impact on our baseball program and student-athletes," Leykam said. “The addition of lights will provide flexibility for both game scheduling for the program and class scheduling for our student-athletes. We also anticipate the ability, with both an improved field surface and lighting, to increase our baseball attendance with games on weekday evenings instead of the middle of the afternoon during the workday."
 
Following the initial renovation phase, a phase II of the project is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices. 
 
As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. Her responsibilities include retail strategy, labor relations, public affairs, communications, government relations, health initiatives, human resources, corporate social responsibility and sustainability, industrial engineering, re-engineering, I.T., real estate and Property Development Centers. Along with her other responsibilities, she oversees Safeway Health Inc., a business venture created to provide assistance to other companies in their efforts to create a culture of health and better health options for their employees.
 
She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to Senior Vice President in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female Executive Vice President in 1999.
 
Leykam praised the support of Renda, whose son Tommy graduated from UP, and others, including those who support University of Portland athletics. Tommy Renda graduated from the University of Portland in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA in 2013.
 
“The generosity of Larree Renda means a great deal to our baseball program,” said Leykam. "Tommy Renda was an outstanding representative of the UP baseball program as a student-athlete on The Bluff and continues to have a positive impact on both the Athletic Department and the baseball program."