KINGSTON, R.I., — March 14, 2002 — Now you can solidify your own chapter in University of Rhode Island history by purchasing a commemorative brick at the University’s largest construction project ever – the $54 million Convocation Center.
Bricks can be purchased for $150 each to pay tribute to favorite athletes, coaches, teams, faculty members, classmates, fraternities, sororities, clubs or alumni chapters.
The commemorative bricks will be placed in the North Plaza Brick Entry, which will be surrounded by pristine landscaping, sitting walls and walkways. A total of 4,500 bricks will make up the semicircular plaza.
Members of the Convocation Center campaign team began selling the bricks at all URI men’s home basketball games this season. “There has been a lot of interest,” said Sarah Howard, assistant director of the URI Convocation Center Campaign. “Many people who already have a brick on the Quad are buying them for the Convocation Center, and major contributors to the campaign are also purchasing them to lend additional support and to make sure their roles are linked in a public way to the project.”
“We’re getting a lot of orders for multiple bricks because people are trying to capture special memories,”Howard said. “One woman bought one for her husband’s birthday. Others are remembering their fraternity or sorority, honoring their children or themselves.”
“We’d love to be able to fill all the designated space with bricks honoring our great moments, supporters and friends over the years,” Howard said.
Just don’t miss out. All bricks must be ordered by June 2002. For order forms, visit the web site at www.advance.uri.edu/fundraising/convocationcenter/bricks or call 401-874-7536.
“This is a less expensive way for people to support the campaign and get their names on something special as well,” Howard said.
The campaign is sending out letters and brochures to notify alumni of the campaign, which also include information on how additional donations can be made. In addition to the $150 for each brick, the order form in the brochure allows supporters to check off boxes for donations of $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $25,000 and other. Pledge payment schedules are also included.
The $54 million, 8,000-seat Convocation Center is the largest building project in the 110-year history of URI and is scheduled to open in late June. So far $14.8 million of the $15 million private-fund-raising goal for the Convocation Center has been raised.
“This is the last part of a campaign appealing to our entire alumni base. We’re hoping the brick appeal puts us over the top,” Howard said.
The accompanying $12 million ice arena, which is also well under way, is scheduled to open in September. The 2,500-seat ice arena, will be one of only two ice rinks in Rhode Island that will operate year round.
For Information: Sarah Howard 401-874-7536, Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116