Q: What motivated you to get involved with the School of Kinesiology initially and then philanthropically?
A: I have been involved with the School of Kinesiology since 1995 when I graduated with a degree in sport management and communications. I was very close with my guidance counselor, I was very close with certain faculty, and I just stayed involved. One thing that kept me connected is that I had a very close friend that died of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. At the time, the movement science and applied exercise science side of the house was doing incredible things to improve quality of life for those people, and introducing our faculty to potential donors connected me to that specific program philanthropically.

I was always a big advocate to get the School of Kinesiology under one roof. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be this, here. But I had a big mouth, and I was always pushing for it, and when it came to fruition, it was time to back it up with financial support. And that came in the form of the building donation.

My most recent effort at the School of Kinesiology is fully funding a scholarship in perpetuity  that benefits athletic trainers, called the Paley Family Scholarship. I have two children who each play or played three varsity sports. So when you’re as big a fan of high school and youth sports as I am and you go to that many events, you’re going to see that injuries are part of the game, and athletic trainers are the heroes involved in making sure that a) those injuries are dealt with immediately, b) they’re being followed up with properly, and c) the players aren’t given clearance to compete again too early.

The certification requirements for athletic training recently changed from a four-year undergraduate program to a four-year undergraduate program plus graduate school. That’s a big pill to swallow. We cannot afford to not have people joining this profession simply because of a substantial graduate school check they’re going to have to write.

Q: You’ve talked about your philanthropy in terms of dollars, but we often talk about giving in terms of time, talent, and treasure. You’ve also given us your time and your talent — as the campaign committee chair, creating our campaign video. Why is it important for you to do that work in addition to giving financial support?

A: I think it’s important because I know I can help. I don’t like to just be a fly on the wall, if you will. And I know that there are going to be certain areas I can support. There are areas such as research where I will be of absolutely no help whatsoever. But when it comes to videos, when it comes to branding, when it comes to marketing, when it comes to connecting dots and introductions, I know I can be helpful.

When it comes to attending events, I really do enjoy being there and showing up. I always preach to students that I mentor that it’s important to show up. That’s a big part of what you’re expected to do. And I adore the School of Kinesiology. I grew up here as a student. I’ve been coming ever since. I’ve been impressed with its growth. I’m so happy at the direction the School of Kinesiology has taken, and I’m grateful to be a very, very small part of it.

Q: What stands out to you about the School of Kinesiology, having seen it go through these different stages? What impresses you the most about where we’re at right now?

A: A lot of people are going to talk about the building, and what I say is yes, the building is fantastic, but it’s what’s inside that counts. It’s the research we’re conducting, it’s what we are teaching people, it’s the advancement that we are giving students. It is always forward-thinking.  I appreciate the fact that everybody here is working toward not only maintaining the No. 1 position but really putting it so far out of reach that it’s incomprehensible to be No. 2. I’m inherently a competitive guy, and I love that people are on board with crushing the status quo and making sure we’re reinventing that.

Q: What are you most excited about for this campaign and the potential opportunities for investment and growth here?

A: I think it’s educating people on how many opportunities there are to get involved. If you’re going to be involved in philanthropy, inevitably you’re going to have passion points that show up at the School of Kinesiology — whether it be people with mobility issues, advancing student education to those who cannot afford it, making sure that if a student can’t afford to travel with a class, that that student will be able to do so. The list goes on and on and on, from Parkinson’s disease to concussion awareness. It’s really countless. So to help connect those dots is what I’m most looking forward to. And I think the strategic vision has been super impressive, and I give Robin [Stock, chief development officer], Lori [Ploutz-Snyder, dean], and the entire team all the credit. When they presented it to me, I was moved, and I immediately said yes to being campaign committee chair.

Q: What has the campaign committee chair position entailed, in addition to creating the campaign video?

A: Coming up with the overarching brand, the “Every Move Matters” concept, making sure that everybody understands the common cause, making sure that we’re going about it systematically, that we’re approaching it in a way that can be understood by potential donors. At the end of the day, it’s making sure that anybody and everybody who would, in theory, want to hear this story is hearing this story.

Q: In your opinion, why should someone who hasn’t given to the School of Kinesiology in the past give now?

A: There’s definitely an area here that will touch your heart. And one of the key cornerstones of “Every Move Matters” is that a million dollars is great, but $25 a month, a year, is just as impactful when it comes to giving a student an opportunity they may not have been able to afford. These are moves that matter, and every move matters. I challenge you to consider whether there’s anything “Every Move Matters” can’t mean — because I think it can truly mean everything when it comes to the School of Kinesiology and giving.