On Wednesday afternoon, the Binghamton University athletics department announced that it had received the largest gift in BU athletics history.
Dr. Bai Lee, a local physician and member of the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors, will donate a total of $1 million to the BU athletics program. In honor of Dr. Lee’s generosity, the department will name the Events Center basketball court after him.
According to BU Athletics Director Patrick Elliott, the department is still determining the exact uses of the entire donation. The initial portion of the donation, given before the $1 million total was determined, was used to renovate both the women’s and men’s basketball locker rooms.
Future plans include improvements to the Student Athletes Success Center, the strength and conditioning program and the sports medicine team.
BU President Harvey Stenger addressed the crowd and spoke to both Dr. Lee’s involvement within the community and his devotion to the University as a whole.
According to Stenger, the gift will help further BU athletics for both the athletes and the program as a whole.
“This gift will have an impact that extends beyond the individual athletes and the individual teams,” Stenger said. “[It] will benefit them through better teaching, better training and better medical support.”
The official unveiling and dedication of the basketball court will be held on November 15, prior to the men’s basketball home opener against Army.