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NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY |
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Contact:
John Kerr
Canale Family Foundation Provides Lead Gift
(Memphis, TN)----- In the 1950's, Christian Brothers University's De La Salle gym was THE place to play basketball in Memphis and was the scene for many a great small college rivalries as the home of CBU's (then CBC) basketball program.
At 1 p.m. on Friday, December 10 the CBU community will gather to dedicate and officially open a new and renovated gymnasium that will bear the name of the benefactor that provided a major gift for the renovation project. The Canale Family Foundation of Memphis provided the lead gift for the De La Salle Hall renovation. The new gym will be named Canale Arena and specifically honors the memory of the late John D. Canale, Jr.
"This generous gift has allowed us to make a beloved but tired building a more suitable home for our women's and men's basketball and women's volleyball teams and provide a wonderful facility for our students, coaches, and fans," said Nick Scully, CBU's vice president for institutional advancement and athletics. "The Canale family has long been a supporter of the university in many ways and we are eternally grateful to them for this important gift and the opportunity to honor Mr. Canale."
John D. Canale, Jr., a Memphis businessman for more than half a century, was president of D. Canale and Co., parent company of D. Canale Food Services, Inc., and D. Canale Beverages, Inc. He was the recipient of the University's Maurelian Medal in 1994 for his outstanding service and support of CBU. Canale's matching challenge grants helped the CBU annual fund grow into its present giving level of more than a million dollars each year. He was instrumental in the 1949 capital fund drive to build the De La Salle Gymnasium, the largest gymnasium in the Memphis area at that time.
In 1986, Canale provided the funding for the John Canale Pool at CBU to honor his father, John D. Canale, Sr., who had also been a lifelong supporter of the Christian Brothers and was valedictorian of the CBC Class of 1891. John D. Canale, Jr. served as a member of Christian Brothers University Board of Trustees for 13 years, from 1970 to 1983.
De La Salle Hall, where the CBU gym is housed, has been a landmark structure at the corner of Parkway and Central since its construction in 1950. It was originally dedicated to the founder of the Christian Brothers, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, whose statue stands above the main entrance. It has long served the recreational needs of CBU students as well as serving as home court for the intercollegiate basketball and volleyball teams.
The $1.9 million renovation of De La Salle will provide a new arena with capacity for 1,000 in new, stadium-style seating as well as new blocks of both fixed and retractable bleachers. The lobby of the building has been restructured to include a Hall of Fame conference room and new restrooms.
A new entry lobby has been added to the north side of the building and includes a new snack café for students. The west mezzanine of the arena has been transformed into a glass-enclosed hospitality suite, complete with kitchen, and office space for athletic staff. Other improvements will include new heating and air conditioning, new lighting, and new truss-mounted basketball goals.
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Note: A ribbon cutting and blessing of the new facility will be held on Friday, December 10 at 1 p.m. For more information contact John Kerr at 901-321-4417. The first CBU basketball games in the Canale Arena will be played on Saturday, December 4 when CBU welcomes Lane College for two games. The women's game is at 2 p.m. and the men's at 4 p.m. We invite our sports media to attend both the game day and the dedication event. Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Athletics Nick Scully will be available for site tours. JK
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