FARGO, N.D. -- Shelly Ellig, owner of 28 Stop-N-Go stores in North Dakota, has pledged $1 million toward upgrading North Dakota State University's sports arena, said the Associated Press.
Shelly has been a tremendous longtime supporter and friend, NDSU Athletic Director Gene Taylor said. This gift really means a lot to our program.
The project includes renovating the existing facility and an expansion, Taylor said. Construction will start after the funding is secured, he said.
The NDSU Development Foundation [image-nocss] has raised more than $4 million toward the $8 million Bison Sports Arena project, said executive director Jim Miller.
Ellig, president and CEO of Fargo-based Stop-N-Go Stores Inc., is one of 10 individuals or organizations to pledge $1 million or more to the fundraising campaign, Miller said. In October, the NDSU Development Foundation announced the school's largest capital campaign, with a goal of $75 million. The foundation said then that it had secured more than $60 million in cash and pledges.
Separately, earlier this month, Beaumont, Texas-based FastLane Convenience Stores and Steinhagen Oil presented a check for $20,029a more than $4,000 increase over last year's donationto the Richard L. Shorkey Rehabilitation Center, said the Beaumont Journal. Giglio Distributing also contributed.
The company said that the donation will be used to provide programs and services for area children with disabilities, including cerebral palsy from age birth to 21 years old. The Shorkey Center, a 61-year-old nonprofit United Way agency, is currently serving youngsters with physical disabilities and learning challenges, said the report.
We've been doing this, roughly, for 13 years, said Frank Crorey, director of sales and marketing for Giglio Distributing, which was also part of the effort. It's a situation where the community supports us, and it's important for us to give back. It's for a good cause. It helps children in our area.
FastLane director of operations Jim Wratten agreed: It's a chance for us to interact with our customers, to be able to do something good for the people here.
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