By Marcela Berrios, Hannah Storm Journalism Intern
The “Spirit of Notre Dame” fundraising campaign can add John Arlotta ’71 and his wife, Bobbie, to its list of benefactors after the couple pledged to the University last June the lead gift for the construction of a lacrosse stadium east of the Joyce Center.
Possibly a $5 million project, the lacrosse stadium – which will be named Arlotta Stadium – is expected to seat 3,000 fans and have a lighted, artificial-turf field, locker rooms, restrooms and concession areas. Construction will not begin until the project is fully funded, a matter the other members of the Arlotta family have already begun to address.
The Arlottas’ three children – Mindy, Andy and Jon – have pledged a gift from The Arlotta Family Foundation toward the project, in addition to their parents’ lead contribution.
And the family’s generosity has been most welcome at the Athletic department.
“We’re thrilled and grateful that the Arlottas’ gift will significantly enhance the positioning of our lacrosse programs at Notre Dame,” Kevin White, director of athletics, said. “Both our men’s and women’s programs already are nationally competitive – and a new, top-quality facility will further their abilities to attract the very best student-athletes in the sport of lacrosse.”
John and Bobbie said they fell in love with the sport while they lived Baltimore and they wanted to make a gift to Notre Dame that could produce and support both male and female student-athletes in a sport “that would make a difference.”
“When considering how we could share some of our blessings and good fortune with Notre Dame, we concluded that the lacrosse programs met the critical goals that we had established for our gift to the University.”
A retired captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, Arlotta graduated in 1971 from Notre Dame’s Army ROTC program, majored in marketing and minored in transportation management. He is the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Coram Inc., a Denver-based provider of home infusion and specialty pharmacy services.
