Couple donates $4 million to University of Toledo Athletics Department

The University of Toledo Athletics Department has received one of the largest gifts in its history from Marcia and Roy Armes, longtime donors to numerous projects at the University of Toledo. The $4 million most recently given by the couple will help advance the Athletic Department’s five-year plan, Rise Together.

According to an article on the University of Toledo’s website, Bryan B. Blair, the Vice President and Director of Athletics, shared his gratitude for the Armes’ gift. He is quoted as saying, “We are eternally thankful for the incredible and ongoing support of Roy and Marcia. Their investment fuels our ambition to build on our current success, turning this moment into a movement. The Armes place a high value on improving our student-athletes’ experience. Their support has been critical to the academic excellence within Toledo Athletics and their latest generosity will help provide a first-class experience for our student-athletes for decades to come.”

Roy Armes is a 1975 graduate of the University of Toledo, having earned a degree from the College of Engineering. Marcia Armes attended the University of Toledo briefly before transferring to Western Michigan University to complete her education degree. Roy served as a National Trustee on the UToledo Board of Trustees. Among the many gifts they have given the university include the lead gift for the Marcia and Roy Armes Rocket Academic Center in the Larimer Athletic Complex and a donation for the Engineering Leadership Institute.

Speaking of his and his wife’s passion for the University of Toledo’s athletics, Roy said, “Marcia and I are pleased to be able to give back to a University that we both attended and that means so much to us. We have always been strong supporters of the Athletic Department and its mission to serve the hopes and dreams of its student-athletes. We understand the dedication, commitment and hard work it takes for student-athletes to succeed in their sport and in the classroom and it is our honor to contribute to initiatives that will help them succeed now and in the future.”

Marcia echoed his sentiments, saying, “We are excited to play a leadership role in the Athletics Facility Master Plan efforts. Roy and I believe in teamwork and its incredible power to create positive results when everyone is working towards the same goal. It is our hope that this gift serves as an inspiration for others to also step forward and accomplish great things together. We are proud to be Toledo Rockets and look forward to the bright future of the Toledo Athletics.”

The gift from Roy and Marcia Armes is a contribution toward Rise Together, the Athletics Department’s five-year plan. Per the plan’s website, Rise Together aims to “to transform the lives of our student-athletes while elevating the University and community through the power of sports” by achieving goals such as investing in the infrastructure of the athletics teams, recruiting promising athletes, preparing student athletes for success both athletically and academically, and increasing the visibility of the university’s teams and branding.

Interim President of the University of Toledo Matt Schroeder said of the Armes’ donation, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Roy and Marcia Armes for this transformative gift to our Athletic Department. The Armes’ continued support of our University is truly inspiring. Their generosity will help elevate our University and leave a lasting and positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes.”

For more information about the University of Toledo, visit the school’s website.