Snows’ $2.4 million gift to enhance Clemson University student recreation

CLEMSON — Clemson University has received a $2.4 million gift to support student recreation areas and programs from David and Lynette Snow of Darien, Conn. The university’s recreation area on S.C. Highway 93 in Oconee County will be named the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center.

This the largest gift to the university from parents who are not Clemson alumni.

“With their generous gift, we can develop facilities, programs and services that will transform the recreation, leisure and wellness aspect of student and community life— for what now will be kind of like a Bowman Field on the lake,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements.

The Snows, whose daughter, Ashley, is a senior marketing major at Clemson, serve on the vice president’s executive council for Student Affairs/The Will to Lead Campaign committee. David also serves on the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism board.

“Lynette and I have had the opportunity, through our daughter, Ashley, to see the amazing student experience that is provided by Clemson’s Division of Student Affairs, and we wanted to partner with the division to make it even better,” David Snow said.

“We saw immediately that the new Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center at Clemson will transform not only intramural activity on campus but all outdoor activity, and we are humbled to play a role in making this happen,” he said.

Clemson University owns 20,000 acres to the north and south of its main campus and has access to Hartwell Lake. It is one of the few universities in the country with a lake running through its campus.

“As Clemson parents, David and Lynette’s passion for improving the quality of life for our students is a model within the Clemson family,” said Student Affairs Vice President Gail DiSabatino. “This gift will help us capitalize on Clemson’s abundant natural resources for the benefit of our students and community.”

College students say the benefits of recreational sports include emotional well-being, stress reduction, workload management and improvement of their overall happiness and self-confidence.

The Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Center will offer an environment to facilitate the physical, mental and social development for students.

This project will provide an active learning environment for experiential education, environmental awareness programs, recreational skills and life skills in leadership, community development and employment.

Activities will include club sport and intramural play, outdoor recreation classes, instruction and guided trips, leisure skills classes, leisure recreation and major events.

“We hope our gift brings awareness to such an important project on campus, and we encourage other families to join us in this effort,” David Snow said. “No gift is too small when we are working to enhance and transform the lives of Clemson students.”

The Snow gift is part of Clemson’s The Will to Lead capital campaign to raise $1 billion to support Clemson students and faculty with scholarships, professorships, facilities, technology and enhanced opportunities for learning and research.

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