University of North Carolina Athletics
Chewnings Make Million Dollar Gift to UNC Athletics
June 8, 2001 | General
June 8, 2001
The University of North Carolina has received a $1 million gift from Tom and Nancy Chewning. Mr. Chewning, a former Tar Heel men's tennis player, is chairman of the Educational Foundation, Inc.
The generous contribution is made in honor of the Chewnings' son, Rush, and daughter and son-in-law, Wilson and Brent Steele, all graduates of UNC.
The gift will be divided to support the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center and academic support center, and create endowments for men's tennis, women's tennis, women's swimming, women's golf and field hockey.
"Individual sport endowments are critical to the long-term support of the athletic department," says Mr. Chewning. "Operating a broad-based program requires the athletic department to severely restrict many Olympic sport budgets. We hope this gift inspires others to follow our lead and add to the endowments for all 28 sports.
"We selected these specific programs with our gift because we have been blessed over the years to have developed personal relationships with the coaches and student-athletes in these sports. Further, we believe it is necessary and vital for our former student-athletes and Carolina alumni to support all of our varsity programs. Our family is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting challenge."
"Tom and Nancy Chewning have been tremendously supportive of Carolina athletics through the years," says Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. "They have developed a strong relationship with the University through Tom's days as a student-athlete and a leadership position in The Educational Foundation. They have a unique interest in the Olympic sport programs and the academic success of our current students. This gift reflects a commitment to academic and athletic excellence."
"We are certainly grateful for Tom and Nancy's generous support of important Educational Foundation and UNC Athletics priorities," says Educational Foundation President John Montgomery. "This gift reflects their commitment to building our Olympic sport endowments as well as their interest in the overall success of our student-athletes."
Mr. Chewning is Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Dominion Resources, headquartered in Richmond, Va. He is on the local boards of the YMCA and American Heart Association. He serves as a board member of Virginia Union University, the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and the First Baptist Church Endowment. He co-chaired fundraising for the Arthur Ashe Monument on Richmond's historic Monument Avenue.
A native of Richmond, Va., Mr. Chewning received his bachelor's degree from Carolina in 1967 and master's of business administration from the Wharton School of Finance in 1969.
