Scott Keepfer

skeepfer@greenvillenews.com

CLEMSON – Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and his wife, Kathleen, put their money where their heart is Tuesday morning when the university announced that they’d pledged $1 million to IPTAY.

The money is given in support of Clemson football to provide future funding for programs and building initiatives.

“I love Clemson, I love our community, I love the state of South Carolina, and I love the players I’ve had the privilege of coaching,” Dabo Swinney said. “Kathleen and I are blessed, and we have always known we need to use those blessings to do good for others. It’s so important to us that we give back to this program that has been so good to us.”

It’s not the first time the Swinney’s have “given back.” In addition to past gifts of more than $340,000 via their All-In Foundation, the Swinneys have personally donated more than $265,000 of their private funds to need-based scholarships, Golf Paws, the Clemson chapel project, IPTAY’s annual fund and the completion of the WestZone.

“This is our 14th year here and we’re incredibly invested,” Swinney said. “We believe in the mission of IPTAY. We never, ever want to be seen as takers; we want to be givers and that’s how we’ve lived our life. We felt like this was a time to step up.

“There are a lot of people out there who give a lot in proportion to what they have, and I have a great respect and appreciation for that.”

ONE ON ONE: Meet Kathleen Swinney