For football field at Princeton, an even $10.5 million
By: Courtney Gross
In the biggest gift in the history of Princeton University’s athletic program, former All-Ivy punter William C. Powers has pledged $10.5 million the majority for its football program. In his honor, Princeton Stadium’s game field will be named "Powers Field."
The gift has already been put toward the completed artificial playing surface in the stadium and will also be appropriated for renovation of the team’s two adjacent practice fields, said Wendell Collins, Princeton University director of development communications.
Defined as a "multi-faceted gift," Ms. Collins added, $500,000 will be directed toward the founding of two scholarships for Princeton’s needs-based financial aid program.
In addition, money will be allocated for the maintenance endowment for the athletic fields, and a significant portion will be earmarked for the Princeton football endowment.
The field will be dedicated at next year’s Nov. 10 football game against Yale, according to a statement from the university. The gift also made Princeton the first Ivy League institution to use the artificial surface called FieldTurf.
University teams, including soccer, lacrosse, baseball, sprint football and rugby, also use the newly refurbished field.
In a prepared statement, Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman said, "Bill Powers has been an enthusiastic supporter of Princeton and our athletic programs for many years."
She added, "His exceptionally generous gift embraces the facilities and the programs that our athletes need to compete effectively, as well as the financial aid program that opens Princeton’s doors to so many gifted students."
As an economics major at Princeton and 1979 alumnus, Mr. Powers served his team well, garnering such awards as the Princeton Charles W. Caldwell Memorial Trophy in 1978 given to the senior who shows the greatest improvement.
He also ranks fourth in the most career punts and helped defeat rival Harvard in 1977 with a 70-yard punt a Tiger win still remembered.
In a prepared statement, Mr. Powers said, "I hope that this gift will inspire current and future Princeton athletes to strive for excellence, thus reinforcing the university’s commitment to the student athlete experience that imparts the critical values of leadership, teamwork, competition and character, including managing adversity as well as success."
He continued, "It is my further hope that this gift will assist Princeton in attracting the most highly qualified and talented student athletes, and that these facilities and resources will enable Princeton’s athletes to perform to the best of their abilities."
Mr. Powers currently is a managing director and senior member of Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, Calif.
With a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University, Mr. Powers has continued to stay active in the Princeton University community over the years. In 2004, he also sponsored the university band’s trip to San Diego to support a Tiger victory.

