McHenry, MD – The Morin Family – Don and Liz, along with son Clark – were recognized last Wednesday for the gift that kick-started Garrett College’s nearly complete Athletics Capital Campaign.
Don and Liz Morin announced their naming gift for the Morin Family Gymnasium at last June’s President’s Circle, the Garrett College Foundation’s semi-annual event for the Foundation’s largest donors. Since then, the College has raised over $800,000 on an initial $500,000 goal to help offset College costs in the $5.3 million renovation of the 700 Building, which is being converted to support GC’s expanding intercollegiate athletics program.
Last week’s recognition was scheduled to coincide with a planned visit by Clark Morin, a Denver-based finance consultant. While appreciative of being included in the naming, Clark lauded his parents’ local philanthropy.
“It’s all their hard work,” Clark said. “I think it’s cool how much they give back to the community.”
Both Liz and Don Morin said they immediately knew they wanted to provide a major named gift to get the capital campaign started last summer.
“Garrett College is such a tremendous asset to the entire community,” said Liz. “It offers so much to everyone who lives here – credit programs, workforce training, and community classes and events.”
Don Morin – who spent six years as chair of the Garrett College Board of Trustees – said the strategic manner in which the College planned its athletics expansion was a key factor in the family gift.
“The athletics expansion was designed to increase enrollment and improve student success – and that’s exactly what’s taken place,” said Don. “The College’s enrollment is growing, the residence halls are filled, and the increase in the number of student-athletes has led to improved student academic performance along with higher retention and graduation rates.”
The renovated 700 will include locker rooms for the four teams serviced by the adjoining turf field – baseball, softball, women’s soccer, and men’s soccer – as well as new athletic training space, a wrestling room, a conference room, and coaches’ offices. The facility will open in time for the upcoming academic year.
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, said the Morin Family’s naming gift was “exactly what we needed to jumpstart the capital campaign.”
“Their gift generated a lot of interest in the community and led directly to many other naming gifts,” said Midcap. “That gift really set us up for success in this campaign.”
Cherie Krug, executive director of the Garrett College Foundation, said 23 of 25 major naming gifts have already been closed. Krug said she is working with potential donors for the remaining major gifts – the final two spots on the Donor Archway.
The Foundation is also working on two other campaign components – a donor wall that includes three giving levels and a naming campaign for lockers in the four new team locker rooms. Krug said the entire campaign is set to close at the end of 2026.
Individuals interested in information about giving to the GCF Athletics Capital Campaign should contact Cherie Krug at [email protected] or 301.387.3100.