Kathleen and Mark Santora have donated $1 million to University of California, Irvine’s intercollegiate athletics department to help the school start a renovation of an athletics facility.
The gift will be used to expand the Ed Carroll Strength and Conditioning Center in UCI’s Crawford Hall, the 3,700-square-foot weight-room facility used by roughly 400 UCI student-athletes for 18 programs year-round.
The renovation project, as part of the school’s Campaign for the Student-Athlete, is expected to increase the facility to 8,500 square feet and add more equipment, such as non-impact exercise machines and cardiovascular gear, according to the school.
The work will begin in September and is slated to end by next summer.
The school’s campaign also includes a construction of the Al Irwin Academic Center, which will provide an area for academic consultation and skills-development classes for student-athletes. The project was initiated by a donation from Martha and Jim Newkirk.
The improved facilities “will elevate Anteater athletics… to a new level in recruiting,” said Mike Izzi, UCI athletic director.
