Providence College Trustee endows Scholarships, Fitness Center for underrepresented students

Six-figure gift from Trustee 

Providence College announced today that a $2 million gift from trustee William F. Concannon ’77 and Claudia Concannon will endow the popular Concannon Fitness Center and create scholarships aimed at closing the financial gap for underrepresented students.

“This wonderful gift exemplifies the commitment and generosity that have made Bill and Claudia leaders committed to Providence College and its mission,” said College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. ’78, ’82G. “Their investment will help Concannon Fitness Center continue as a shining beacon for our students, while also supporting priority initiatives related to access and to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am grateful for their support and for this indelible signal of their faith in Providence College and our aspirations for the institution’s future.”

A lead gift of $2 million from William and Claudia Concannon in 2007 made possible the construction of the Concannon Fitness Center, a two-story, 23,000-square-foot facility that quickly became a favorite of students, faculty, and staff. Today, their decision to allocate an additional $1 million to endow the fitness center and $1 million to create the William ’77 and Claudia Concannon ’08 Endowed Scholarship Fund, will ensure that the fitness center remains a state-of-the-art facility for years to come and that scholarships will be awarded each year to deserving students whose financial aid package does not meet all of their demonstrated need. 

“I was fortunate at a key moment in high school to have the PC door opened to me, and I want to ensure that others can have that experience,” William Concannon said. “Father Sicard has wanted to advance admission in a way that allows underrepresented students to have a path to experience Providence College. Given my background, it was an easy choice.”

This newly announced gift is the largest to date in Father Sicard’s presidency. The Concannon’s initial gift was the first major gift in former president Rev. Brian Shanley’s, O.P. ’80, tenure. 

Bill Concannon is global group president, clients and business partners, at CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm headquartered in Dallas. He serves as a member of the Board of Trustees’ Building and Property Committee and the Development and Alumni Affairs Committee. He was also a trustee from 2002-2010. 

About Providence College

Founded in 1917, Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,000 students, and offers degrees in 50 academic majors. Since 1997, Providence College consistently has been ranked among the top five regional universities in the North according to U.S. News & World Report’s“America’s Best Colleges.”