PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland has announced a $1 million gift from the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation to support student-athlete leadership and facility construction for UP Athletics.

The contribution will support two projects on the University's 35-acre Franz Campus located on the banks of the Willamette River: the Patrick E., Becker, Sr. Track & Field Complex and the Tom & Meg Names Family Foundation Beach Volleyball Courts.

"We are deeply grateful to the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation for its continued support of the University of Portland," said UP President Dr. Robert D. Kelly. "The leadership, vision, and benefaction that the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation has provided to UP has been nothing short of transformational. The Foundation's past and ongoing support for the varsity and intramural fields, boathouse, track, and beach volleyball court projects on the Franz Campus will enhance the experience of Pilot students, and student-athletes, for years to come." 

In addition, the Foundation has committed support to the Pilots LEAD Fund (Learn, Engage, Advance, and Dedicate). The commitment to Pilots LEAD addresses four primary areas of support for UP student athletes: Study Abroad, Academic Technology, Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) and Leadership Programming.

"The contribution by the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation to our Pilots LEAD program is significant," University of Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam said. "Our student-athletes have been asking for, and will greatly benefit from support toward life skills, academics, and NIL. We can't thank Monica and Erin enough for their continued generosity."

The board of the Tom and Meg Names Family Foundation are Tom and Meg's daughters Monica Names-King (UP Regent & UP Class of 1990) and Erin Shagren.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND
University of Portland is an independently governed Catholic university guided by the Congregation of Holy Cross; with a mission focusing on teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership. It is the only school in Oregon to offer a College of Arts & Sciences, a graduate school, and nationally accredited programs in the schools of business, education, engineering and nursing.  University of Portland is consistently a top-ranked school among colleges and universities in the American West. University of Portland athletics is a member of the West Coast Conference and competes at the NCAA Division I level in the following varsity sports: baseball (M), basketball (MW), cross country (MW), rowing (W), soccer (MW), tennis (MW), indoor and outdoor track and field (MW), and indoor and beach volleyball (W). For more information, visit up.edu or PortlandPilots.com.

THE TOM AND MEG NAMES FAMILY FOUNDATION was established in 2015 in honor of Tom and Anna "Meg" Names. The foundation is dedicated to work in collaboration with various health, wellness, and athletic nonprofit organizations to make a brighter future for the youth of the Puget Sound region. Tom Names passed away at age 80 in February 2015, and Meg, at age 81, in February 2016.