Developer, alumnus pledges $10M to Furman athletics project.

• Position: Ravenel B. Curry III

Businessman and philanthropist Ravenel B. Curry III has pledged $10 million to Furman University for renovations to Timmons Arena, home to the Paladins' men's and women's basketball programs.

The gift is the largest in Furman Athletics history and will be the cornerstone of a $40 million project, funded primarily by donations, to make Timmons a premier venue among mid-major universities in the nation, the university said in a news release.

"Investing in major renovations of Timmons Arena is a wonderful opportunity to invest in our student athletes and the overall Furman student experience," Curry said in the news release. "The plans presented by Vice President of Athletics Jason Donnelly and President Elizabeth Davis will enhance our home court advantage, but more importantly they will improve our competitiveness off the court for talent."

Curry is a 1963 graduate of Furman and founder, CEO and co-chief investment officer of Eagle Capital Management in New York.

The 100,000-square-foot Timmons Arena opened on Furman's campus in 1997 with 3,500 seats for basketball. The first phase of renovations began in September 2021 with coaches' offices, locker rooms and film rooms. Subsequent phases will include the addition of donor suites; improved student experience; enhanced food, beverage and merchandise concession areas; upgrades to the entrance and exterior; and changes to the court and seating area, the release stated. A timeline for completing the project will depend on raising the balance of the $40 million total, but Donnelly said more than half of that total has been reached. Furman has partnered with Ken Betsch of Betsch and Associates for architectural design and with Harper General Contractors for construction management.

"Paladin basketball teams are competitive, dynamic and fun to watch, thanks to coaches Jackie Carson and Bob Richey and their staffs, and to our amazing student athletes," President Davis said in the release. "This very generous pledge by Ravenel Curry will help us take basketball to the next level. It will greatly enrich experiences for our students and our fans in the Greenville area. When renovations are complete, Timmons Arena will be a college basketball showplace."

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The renovations will immediately help recruit and retain top talent, Donnelly said. "Improving and expanding the spaces in which all off-the-court activities occur is a...