On October 26, Georgetown announced that former National Football League Commissioner and current chair of the University’s Board of Directors Paul Tagliabue (COL ’62) and his wife, Chandler Tagliabue, have made a $5 million gift to the University, $1 million of which will go to the Georgetown’s LGBTQ Resource Center.

The funding to the Center will go to the creation of the Tagliabue Initiative for LGBT Life: Fostering Formation and Transformation. Although the specific goals for the initiative are still being worked out, LGBTQ Resource Center Director Sivagami Subbaraman wrote in an email that it will broadly focus on inclusivity on campus, and the Center is considering a “hybrid student affairs/academic program.”

Subbaraman believes that the size of the Tagliabues’s donation, as well as their position of power and fame, will be invaluable to the Center and the promotion of LGBTQ rights and awareness around campus as well as nationwide.

“[Tagliabue has] impeccable stature as current Chairman of our Board of Directors, former NFL Commissioner, our [former] basketball captain, and alum class of ’62—all of which points to the simple fact that LGBTQ work is as valid, valuable and worthy of the highest support as much else on campus,” she wrote. “It sends a huge message not just about the value of the work being done here on the Hilltop, but across the country—to so many who do this work in so many other universities.”

The Tagliabues have been known for their work as LGBTQ allies for years, and in 2005 received the Stay Close Individual Leadership Award from Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The rest of the money they donated to the University will go toward need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships, and strategic initiatives.

H/T Washington Blade, photo from Georgetown.edu

This Friday, seven alumni were inducted into Georgetown University’s Athletic Hall of Fame at a special ceremony in the Leavey Center. This year’s induction class was the largest ever.

Inductees included Georgetown basketball legend Alonzo Mourning (COL ’92), track and field national champion Michael Stahr (COL’ 88), tennis star Kathryn Federici (COL’87), football running back Dean Lowry (COL’89), lacrosse goalie James Kenny (MSB’90), Big East swimming champion Mark Marilley (COL’86), soccer star Andrew Hoffmann (MSB’90).

During his time at Georgetown, Mourning was the first player to be  Big East Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player in the same season. He is also one of only two Hoyas to graduate with 2,000 or more points and 1,000 or more rebounds. He had an illustrious fifteen year NBA career, and represented the U.S. in the Olympics four times.

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