The best defensive player in the NFL is giving back to the school that helped develop him.
Pitt announced this morning that 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has made a seven-figure financial donation to the Pitt Football Championship Fund. Donald becomes the youngest seven-figure donor in the history of the university and the largest donation ever by a Pitt football letterman to the program.
This generous donation will go towards improvements to the football facility, recruiting technology and student-athlete development.
As a way of thanking Donald, the football program announced that the bottom floor of the Pitt practice facility will be renamed the “Aaron Donald Football Performance Center.” This area includes the team’s locker room, athletic training room and the weight room.
“It was a dream come true to play for the University of Pittsburgh,” said Donald. “My experience as a Panther is something that influences my life every day and I want to pay that forward. I believe in what Coach Narduzzi is building at Pitt and this was an opportunity for me to take a difference for our current and future players. Pitt will always be my school and I’m honored to be able to support the Blue and Gold.”
“Aaron Donald is a legendary football player but he’s also a legendary human being,” said Pat Narduzzi. “Aaron is the toast of Los Angeles but he’s still a Pitt and Penn Hills guy at heart. He’s humble, hardworking and has never forgotten where he came from. This incredible gift to Pitt is a reflection of that. On behalf of our entire program, I want to thank Aaron for his generous investment in the future of Pitt football. We will work hard every day as coaches and players to make you proud, Aaron.”
Donald, along with another former Pitt great, LeSean McCoy, will serve as honorary head coaches for tomorrow’s Pitt Blue/Gold Spring Game.
what an awesome person he is a very proud pitt man