The month of April continues to bring amazing new to Villanova. On the heels of winning the Men's Basketball National Championship two weeks ago and being honored with the #1 Undergrad Business School earlier this week, University President Fr. Peter Donohue announced that William B. Finneran ('63, VSB) has made a $22.6 million donation to the University's "For the Greater Great" Capital Campaign. The gift will "support renovations to The Pavilion," which opened in 1986, as well as funding day-to-day operations of the Villanova’s men’s basketball program.

Finneran, who has endowed the head coaching position for 'Nova, is the chairman and co-founder of EXOP Capital, a hedge fund firm in New York.

According to a release, "Redesigning the Pavilion will enhance Villanova's ability to recruit and train the nation's best and brightest student-athletes. It will create a high-quality, game-day experience for fans while also providing a tremendous home-court advantage". The venue will also provide support for other aspects of the University and the Athletics Department.

Planning phases for The Pavilion renovation will begin immediately and continue throughout 2016. The process is designed to be inclusive amongst the Villanova community, season ticketholders and Wildcat fans, and will include market feasibility studies, focus groups and surveys.

Read Fr. Donohue's letter.