Rosemont College Receives Anonymous $5 Million Donation

received a welcome surprise last week: an anonymous $5 million donation. 

The gift—the second-largest in Rosemont College’s history—will be used to fund a new turf athletic field for soccer and lacrosse ($2 million) and a new campus community center ($3 million). 

“It’s huge, not just in size but in intent,” Athletic Director Lynn Rothenhoefer said of the donation. “It’s going to significantly help us be able to sustain all the programs we’ve recently added in becoming co-ed.”

Rosemont College, which used to accept only female students, began admitting male applicants in 2009.

The turf field project is slated for the summer of 2013, which hopefully would allow fall 2013 sports teams to play there, Rothenhoefer said. The community center project is estimated to cost about $13 million and will involve the renovation of Cardinal Hall. 

Campaign for Rosemont College

The $5 million donation also brings the Campaign for Rosemont College total to $19 million toward a goal of $40 million.

“I could not be more grateful for the confidence this alumna has in the future of this college,” President Sharon Latchaw Hirsch, Ph.D. ’70 said in a press release. “Her incredibly generous gift will deepen the richness of the Rosemont experience for many deserving students.”

The donation came in mid-December, according to the release, and the donor said she was impressed by recent success and is excited for the school’s future.

“It is my hope this gift will encourage other alumni to contribute to the college so that, together, we can ensure the unique Rosemont education we all enjoyed and will continue to transform the lives of future students,” said the donor, according to a press release from the college.