American University (AU) Board of Trustees member and AU alumnus Alan L. Meltzer, and his wife, Amy Meltzer, have made a $10 million gift for AU’s new athletics facility, which will be named the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance.
The CAP is the cornerstone of an $85 million university investment to create a student hub that will provide a place for all AU Eagles to grow and gather as a community. The investment will also feature a new Student Well-Being Center and renovations to the Mary Graydon Center, the university says in a statement.
“The 46,000 sq. ft. CAP will enable AU student-athletes to elevate their competitive performance and it will also expand recreation, fitness, and community-building opportunities for the entire AU community. Centrally located in the heart of campus, these enhanced facilities will provide all students with resources and spaces to learn lifelong skills, further a sense of belonging on campus, foster physical and mental well-being, and build capacity to thrive in an increasingly complex world,” the statement says.
This gift follows an initial $5 million commitment from the Meltzers in 2019 to support the CAP. The cumulative commitment from the Meltzers is the second-largest naming gift to a capital project that AU has ever received.
“As American University pursues the change that we know can’t wait, Alan and Amy again demonstrated their commitment to our community,” said AU President Sylvia M. Burwell. “Their extraordinary gift will enable AU students to excel athletically and academically and will build the bonds of community that have been so meaningful to Alan and Amy. The Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance will elevate the AU student experience and propel generations of changemakers to future success.”
The $15 million cumulative gift supports a foundational element of AU’s Change Can’t Wait campaign to create transformative educational opportunities, advance research with impact, and build stronger communities. As of July 2022, the campaign has raised more than $342 million toward its $500 million goal.
“American University has played a transformational role in our lives, and we are excited to support current and future Eagles as they pursue their purpose,” said Alan Meltzer (CAS/BA ’21). “The Center for Athletic Performance and the investment in student thriving will support the unique AU experience that makes this university special.”
