Sanford Health President and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft announced a gift of $10 million to North Dakota State University and the athletic department. Sanford’s gift is the cornerstone for the Building the Competitive Edge for Bison Athletics $32 million campaign. A 5,700-seat basketball and wrestling arena, and an eight-lane indoor track highlight this initiative.
The gift is the largest one-time donation in the NDSU Development Foundation’s history.
“We are building something special together on a great tradition of top level academic and athletic performance at NDSU. We are creating opportunities for outstanding Division I competition while promoting fitness and wellness for our youth and their families,” said Krabbenhoft. NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani, along with Foundation Board of Trustees President Ron Olson and Director of Athletics Gene Taylor, accepted the generous gift at a celebration held Monday, Sept. 27, in the Bison Sports Arena.
Bresciani said NDSU commands a powerful niche as a student focused, land grant research university, where athletics plays an important role. “Sanford’s generosity, and more importantly the sense of partnership, is critical to our ability to continue to serve our students and our state,” he said. “In my short time here, I’ve witnessed a remarkable level of commitment and enthusiasm, and on behalf of our student-athletes and the entire university, I want to thank our new partners.” This dramatic extension and renovation of the Bison Sports Arena will transform the facility and surrounding area, including a track and field venue, into a true Division I athletic complex reflecting the new NDSU.
Additionally, it will serve as the “front door” venue welcoming student-athletes and campus guests with the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame, Hall of Champions, and various fan services and facilities. A two-court basketball practice facility will be added to the southwest corner of the existing structure. The west-side addition will house human performance facilities, including strength training, sports medicine and rehabilitation areas. The renovated BSA also will have an athletic academic center for the student athletes.
“We are very appreciative of this very generous gift from Sanford Health. It is a great day for Bison Athletics. This wonderful gift will bring us closer to completing some very critical facility needs that will positively impact our athletes, coaches, fans and staff for years to come,” said Taylor. “We are excited about a long term partnership with Sanford Health and the many great opportunities that lie ahead.” Sanford has a long history of partnering with universities in the region including Augustana College (S.D.), Concordia College (Minn.), Minnesota State University Moorhead, the University of Sioux Falls and the University of South Dakota. Sanford also works closely with local universities as a teaching institution. Thousands of nursing, pharmacy, therapy and medical students have received hands on training at Sanford, allowing our best and brightest to get high quality education and training close to home.
Sanford Health, based in Fargo, N.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D., is now the largest, rural, not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation with a presence in 110 communities in eight states. Sanford has more than 800 physicians and 18,000 employees.