The University of Toledo Athletic Department today announced a major gift from Marcia and Roy Armes that will have a profound impact on the lives of Rocket student-athletes.
The Armes’ gift of $4 million will support the major initiatives within the University and Athletics Facilities Master Plans. It is the second-largest cash gift in the history of Toledo Athletics.
Interim President Matt Schroeder, left, and Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair, center right, pose with Roy and Marcia Armes, whose gift of $4 million will support the major initiatives within the University and Athletics Facilities Master Plans. It is the second-largest cash gift in the history of Toledo Athletics.
“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,” said Roy Armes. “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.”
“We are excited to play a leadership role in the Athletics Facility Master Plan efforts,” added Marcia Armes. “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 Armes’ investment in capital improvements will help advance every goal of Rise Together, the Athletic Department’s five-year strategic plan that outlines a roadmap for student-athlete well-being and success, community engagement and facility enhancements that aims to graduate champions who will change the world, while elevating Toledo into national prominence.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Roy and Marcia Armes for this transformative gift to our Athletic Department,” said UToledo Interim President Matt Schroeder. “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.”
“We are eternally thankful for the incredible and ongoing support of Roy and Marcia,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Bryan B. Blair. “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 and Marcia Armes are two of the most esteemed supporters of The University of Toledo. Roy, a 1975 graduate of the UToledo College of Engineering, is the former president, chairman and chief executive officer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in Findlay. He also has served on the UToledo Board of Trustees as a National Trustee. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree by his alma mater in 2015. Marcia attended UToledo before transferring and earning her degree in education from Western Michigan University.
They have made numerous gifts to the University, including the lead gift for the Marcia and Roy Armes Rocket Academic Center in the Larimer Athletic Complex, as well as a donations over $1.5 million to support UToledo’s Engineering Leadership Institute.
