CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a significant gift of $350,000 for the building of the Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center from Gies College of Business and LAS graduate Philip Sarnecki and his wife, Heidi. Groundbreaking for the facility is slated for this spring.
"Heidi, myself and our family are excited to continue our contributions to the Univ of Illinois and the work Josh and his team are doing," Philip Sarnekci said. "It's always great when we can bless others with some of the blessings we've been given. We love the work Coach Hartleb and his staff are doing for Illini baseball and hope this gift helps Coach and the University accomplish their ultimate baseball goals. My 13-year old son Blake is particularly excited as he hopes to play for the Illini baseball team some day!"
The Susan and Clint Atkins Baseball Training Center will be approximately 26,000 square feet and will include a large training space and adjoining support spaces. The training space encompasses an entire baseball infield with ceiling-mounted nets for hitting and pitching practice. The $8 million facility will be immediately adjacent to the current clubhouse and locker rooms and should be completed in the Spring of 2022.
"I'm extremely excited about the gift from the Sarnecki family," head baseball coach Dan Hartleb said. "Their generosity will allow us to install a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose netting system which will allow us to utilize the indoor space in a very organized and functional manner. Philip and Heidi have been tremendous supporters of Illinois Athletics and we are very grateful for their gift to Illinois Baseball."
Philip and Heidi currently live in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park with their three children, Ava, Emily, and Blake. Sarnecki is CEO of RPS Financial Group, Inc. and Managing Partner for Northwestern Mutual. He is also Chairman of the Board for Northwestern Mutual's Managing Partner's Association. In addition, he is the owner and founder of RPS Benefits by Design, Inc., and partner and owner of Rebel Pilgrim Productions. Sarnecki also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Athletes in Action.
This is the third major gift from the Sarnecki family, following donations to name the men's basketball locker room at State Farm Center and a $500,000 endowment in their name.
"We are incredibly grateful to Philip and Heidi for once again investing in our overall vision for Fighting Illini Athletics," Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. "Philip paid tribute to his father with a meaningful gift at State Farm and now is making the dream of an indoor facility a reality for our baseball student-athletes. This contribution, which allows us to build a state-of-the-art complex for these young men, will give us a great competitive edge moving forward."
The $350,000 gift from the Sarneckis counts toward the $300 million fundraising goal for the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics, which is part of "With Illinois," the $2.25 billion University-wide fundraising campaign.
