John B. Paolella, Esq., a member of the Leon Hess Business School’s Business Council, presented a check to symbolize his recent $75,000 commitment towards the building of the Monmouth University Golf Training Facility to Vice President and Director of Athletics Marilyn McNeil, Ph.D., during the Council’s breakfast meeting on May 3.
An avid golfer, Paolella previously served as a prosecutor, New Jersey assemblyman and New Jersey senator. In addition to serving on the Business Council, Paolella is also an executive mentor of the Student Enrichment and Engagement through Mentoring Activities (SEEMA) program, an exclusive mentoring program within the business school in which students work directly with professional mentors. Paolella currently mentors a business student who is a member of the men’s golf team on campus.
“John’s generosity and support to Monmouth students has been unwavering. He understands the value of an education and the qualitative difference that mentoring, nurturing, and scholarships can provide. We are indebted to his philanthropy,” said Donald Moliver, Ph.D., dean of the Leon Hess Business School.
The future Golf House will be a 3,000-square-foot structure that is fully climate controlled and houses a 1,000-square-foot contoured putting and chipping green, a Tour quality “Trackman” hitting bay and a multi-purpose two-bay training room with force place balance and video analysis. In addition to the tools that will improve student-athletes’ play, the facility will include locker and storage rooms, a players lounge, coaches offices, bathrooms and a fully furnished outdoor patio.
At the breakfast meeting, Monmouth University President Grey Dimenna and McNeil thanked Paolella for his generosity, service, and commitment to the Leon Hess Business School and Monmouth University.
“This a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to improve their game throughout the entire year,” said McNeil. “We continue to enhance our facilities and strive to have first-class facilities for our student-athletes. We lean on our alumni and friends to help make this project a reality and continue to raise the level of the program. We’re very excited to get the Golf House Project off the ground.”
Formed in 1984, the Leon Hess Business School’s Business Council serves to provide a forum that encourages and promotes a healthy business-to-University and business-to-business relationship.