SunTrust Bank donates $100,000 for athletic center

Sun Trust Bank donated $100,000 to JMU for the university's new athletic performance center.

SunTrust presented the check to JMU President Linwood Rose Dec. 15. Construction of the Robert and Frances Plecker Athletic Performance Center is underway on the south end of Bridgeforth Stadium, and is expected to be completed in 2005, according to Fred Hilton, director of media relations.

"We are big supporters of the mission of James Madison University educationally," said Martha Shifflett, Harrisonburg SunTrust president. "We felt that enhancing the athletic program helps enhance the entire university."

SunTrust Bank wanted to contribute a significant amount of money to the university and worked hand in hand with Rose and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne to choose the recipient.

"We recognized that this is one of the biggest projects going on at the university," Shifflett said.

The athletic department intends to post major donors on a plaque that will be placed in the new facility, according to Shifflett.

"In general, SunTrust Bank has been a longtime supporter of the university, and felt that the athletic program is important to the university as well as the community," said Hilton.

More than $7 million in private funds has been raised for the $9.8 million facility, for which all of the funds for the facility are in place. The remaining amount comes from JMU fees and reserves.

Robert and Frances Plecker, after whom the facility is named, are local residents. They contributed $2 million to the facility.

"The $100,000 is earmarked for equipping the facility, rather than for the building itself," Hilton said.

The 48,000 square-foot center will provide an academic support area for student athletes in each of JMU's 28 intercollegiate sports. Hilton said the facility has a sports medicine complex, a strength-training area, a new football locker room and coaches' offices.