New Catholic center at UMass gets $500K gift
The Newman Center at 472 North Pleasant St. in Amherst, photographed in August. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 4/20/2021 2:18:29 PM
AMHERST — A $2 million capital campaign underway for the construction of a new Newman Catholic Center, likely to open in spring 2022, is already halfway toward its goal due, in large part, to a gift from an alumnus.
George “Trigger” Burke, who is the honorary chairman of the “Miracles Happen… When Heart Speaks to Heart” campaign, recently made a $500,000 contribution, one of the 52 donors who have pledged a combined $1 million toward the project.
As a result of Burke’s gift, the worship space inside the new building, to be constructed at North Pleasant Street and Thatcher Road, will bear his name.