BALTIMORE, MD – The Cupid Foundation, Inc., the private foundation established by Kevin Plank, the founder and CEO of Under Armour, has announced a pledge of $16 million to St. John’s College High School in Washington, DC, as the leadership gift in a capital campaign to support athletics, academics and entrepreneurship initiatives. The gift is the largest in the history of the school and one of the most generous grants ever made to a Catholic high school. Plank, a former trustee and 1990 graduate of St. John’s, made the announcement on Friday night at the school’s gala commemorating 100 years of the St. John’s Cadet Corps. The event also honored four distinguished alumni: General Stanley McChrystal ’72 (Ret.), KPMG Global Chair John Veimeyer ’73, Vice Admiral Manson Brown ’74 (Ret.) and Monsignor John Enzler ’65.
St. John’s College High School is currently building the first phase of its campus master plan, which includes a new 15,000-‐square-‐foot performing arts wing and new student center. The Cupid Foundation grant will launch the second phase of the school’s master plan that primarily supports capital projects, including new state-‐of-‐the-‐art athletic facilities, unrivaled in the area. In addition, the gift will establish the Entrepreneurial Center for Innovation and Leadership, linking the American spirit of entrepreneurship to core Lasallian traditions of leadership and service. Funds will also enhance several academic programs and provide additional tuition assistance for students who might not otherwise have access to a St. John’s education.
Jeff Mancabelli, president of St. John’s College High School, said, “Kevin Plank’s transformational gift will impact the lives of every student on campus. The new St. John’s Center for Athletic Excellence will provide a world-‐class sports venue for our teams and an educational experience for our student-‐athletes, faculty and coaches. Beyond athletics, Mr. Plank’s gift will provide us the opportunity to expand our curriculum and strengthen our leadership programs.”
“The most important aspect of this gift is the tuition assistance that we will provide to students who might not otherwise be able to afford the St. John’s experience,” said Plank. “I am committed to investing in education, entrepreneurship and promoting physical fitness in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Providing great facilities, academics and programming to current and future students at St. John’s is just one very important part of that commitment.”
As a trustee and alumnus, Plank has long supported the school’s leadership in emphasizing all aspects of a Lasallian education, from academics to the arts and athletics, as well as the leadership tradition embodied in the 100-‐year history of the Cadet Corps program.
Other key leadership donors to the campus master plan include: Tom ‘ 65 and Karen Frana, Cap ’61 and Christina Mona, Lou ’52 and Ann Donatelli, Tom ’84 and Karen Gletner, John ’65 and Kari Hughett and the Donohoe Companies.
