Loyola receives first gift to establish new Athletics Difference Makers Fund
A $500,000 gift from Joan I. Skesavage and James S. Skesavage, Jr., ’81, will support the Loyola Athletics Difference Makers Fund, an initiative designed to help Loyola University Maryland attract and retain top-tier student-athletes.
The Skesavages are the first donors to the Loyola Athletics Difference Makers Fund,
which aims to enhance the overall financial support offered to student-athletes by
empowering coaches with the resources they need to recruit, support, and retain them.
The University has set an initial goal of raising $2.5 million for the fund.
“Joan and Jim Skesavage have been steadfast supporters of Loyola for many years, and we are grateful for their generosity, vision, and continued involvement in our community. With the completion of this gift, the Skesavages will mark $1 million in lifetime giving to Loyola—truly a milestone to celebrate,” said Brian M. Oakes, ’99, MBA ’10, vice president for advancement. “As the first donors to the Difference Makers Fund, their gift will help shape the future of Greyhounds athletics and support our mission to define Loyola as a preeminent university for student success.”
Jim Skesavage earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Loyola in 1981. He competed on the men’s swimming and diving team and played on the club rugby team.
Skesavage’s own experience with college athletics provided him with an appreciation for the way financial support could make a difference in the lives of student-athletes at Loyola, who must balance a rigorous, Jesuit education with the demands of NCAA Division I sports.
“It comes down to, ‘how can we help an individual who we think is a great student-athlete,’ which is particularly important at Loyola,” said Skesavage. “I know we can help bright student-athletes who want to commit to staying at Loyola for four years.”
After graduating from Loyola, Jim Skesavage joined the retail brokerage firm Shearson/American Express (now Morgan Stanley) as a financial consultant. He was vice president at NationsBank Investment Management from 1989-92, during which time he earned his MBA from Mercer University’s Stetson-Hatcher School of Business. He then worked for 10 years as a global partner at INVESCO US before a 22-year tenure with Atlanta Capital Management, where he was managing director of distribution and client service. He served on Loyola’s Board of Trustees from 2015-23, chairing the athletics committee and serving as a member of the executive committee.
“I am incredibly grateful for Jim and Joan’s gift and their belief in the importance of establishing the Difference Makers Fund,” said Donna M. Woodruff, associate vice president and director of athletics. “Their willingness to step forward with this incredible investment is more impactful than ever as their generous support will further strengthen our focus on recruiting and retaining talented student-athletes as we navigate this pivotal time in college athletics.”
The Skesavages have a history of making impactful gifts to Loyola. They previously made a gift to support the Air Dome at Sean Lugano Memorial Field at Ridley Athletic Complex in 2017. They also established the Skesavage Family Athletic Scholarship with an initial gift in 2014. The scholarship supports a student-athlete who is in the Sellinger School of Business and Management and maintains a GPA of at least 3.0.
About Loyola Athletics
The Loyola Department of Athletics is comprised of 18 intercollegiate athletic teams—10 women’s and eight men’s teams—that compete in NCAA Division I and the Patriot League. More than 450 student-athletes are members of Greyhounds teams that have won numerous conference championships and two NCAA titles, including the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. Greyhounds student-athletes also excel in the classroom and have ranked in the top six nationally in Graduation Success Rate amongst NCAA schools for 20-straight years.