UPbeat

News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.

Joe Etzel Field

Joe Etzel Field Improvements Underway

1Baseball standsImprovements have begun on the University of Portland’s baseball stadium, Joe Etzel Field, thanks to the support of several donors. The multi-phased project will begin with the installation of artificial turf, designed to replace the natural grass field and give the baseball program much-needed flexibility.

Several donors have contributed to the project, including Larree M. Renda, who has given two gifts of a combined $400,000. Renda is an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. Her son, Tommy Renda ’09, played baseball for the Pilots. Tom and Mary Herche, of Seattle, whose son Charlie Herche ’09 played baseball for the Pilots, gave $150,000 for the baseball field upgrade. Additional leadership gifts for the project have come from former players Lou Stremick ’71; Walt Spitznagel ’50; and Al Courter ‘69.

A total of $850,000 has been raised to date for the first phase. Other scheduled improvements during the first phase include new fencing, a new scoreboard, and eventually new lighting.

Formerly Pilot Stadium, the facility was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Portland athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

Following the initial renovation phase, a long-term phase II of the project is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and baseball specific programming.

The gifts are part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 with a goal of raising $175 million by June 30, 2014. Nearly $182 million has been raised to date, making it one of the largest fundraising campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university.

For more information contact the development office at hanna@up.edu.

Wanna See Some Baseball?

1Baseball standsWant to see some exciting baseball? Tomorrow, (Tuesday, April 1) the Pilots will play Oregon State in a non-conference game at Joe Etzel Field. The game is set for 3 p.m. and purchasing tickets in advance will be a good idea, as this game is expected to be a sell-out. All games and times are subject to change due to weather. For more information or updates, visit portlandpilots.com. To purchase tickets, call 7525 or visit the box office in the Chiles Center.

$150,000 RISE Gift

1Baseball stands150The development office has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $150,000 from Tom and Mary Herche, of Seattle, whose son Charlie ’09 played baseball for the Pilots. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Portland athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrade includes installing artificial turf, stadium lights, and outfield/perimeter fencing. Pending continued fundraising progress, the athletic department would like to begin construction on the first phase as early as the conclusion of the 2014 season with other phases to follow in subsequent years.

The Herche family gift is part of the RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The RISE Campaign, which has raised more than $162 million to date, is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university. For more information go to http://rise.up.edu/ or contact the development office at 7395.

$250,000 Renda Gift For RISE

The University of Portland has announced a RISE Campaign gift of $250,000 from Larree M. Renda, an executive with Safeway Inc., based in Pleasanton, Calif., and a member of the University’s board of regents. The gift will help finance improvements of Joe Etzel Field, formerly Pilot Stadium, which was completed prior to the 1988 baseball season. The stadium was renamed in the summer of 2004 in honor of former Pilots athletic director and long-time head baseball coach Joe Etzel.

The first phase of the baseball stadium upgrades include installing artificial turf, in place of the natural grass field, stadium lights and outfield/perimeter fencing, according to athletic director Scott Leykam. Fundraising is continuing with the goal of completing the first phase immediately after the conclusion of the 2014 baseball season. Following the initial renovations, a second phase is being developed which will include new grandstands, improved concession and ticketing facilities and coaches offices.

As executive vice president for Safeway, Renda is responsible for all retail strategies and a broad range of administrative functions for one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She began her Safeway career in 1974 at the age of 16. She progressed through Safeway’s retail ranks and earned the distinction of being the youngest store manager, district manager and retail operations manager in Safeway’s 86-year history. She was the first woman and youngest person promoted to senior vice president in 1994, and become Safeway’s first female executive vice president in 1999. Her son, Tommy Renda, graduated from the University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned an MBA at UP in 2013.

For more information contact the development office at 7395, or go to the RISE Campaign website at http://rise.up.edu.