$10 million gift to American University
American University (Washington, DC) Board of Trustees member and AU alumnus Alan L. Meltzer, and his wife, Amy Meltzer, have made a $10 million gift for AU’s new athletics facility, which will be named the Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance. This gift follows an initial $5 million commitment from the Meltzers in 2019 to support the CAP. The cumulative commitment from the Meltzers is the second-largest naming gift to a capital project that AU has ever received.
“As American University pursues the change that we know can’t wait, Alan and Amy again demonstrated their commitment to our community,” said AU President Sylvia M. Burwell. “Their extraordinary gift will enable AU students to excel athletically and academically and will build the bonds of community that have been so meaningful to Alan and Amy. The Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance will elevate the AU student experience and propel generations of changemakers to future success.”
The gift supports a foundational element of AU’s Change Can’t Wait campaign to create transformative educational opportunities, advance research with impact, and build stronger communities. As of July 2022, the campaign has raised more than $342 million toward its $500 million goal.
“American University has played a transformational role in our lives, and we are excited to support current and future Eagles as they pursue their purpose,” said Alan Meltzer. “The Center for Athletic Performance and the investment in student thriving will support the unique AU experience that makes this university special.”
The CAP is the cornerstone of an $85 million university investment to create a student thriving hub that will provide a place for all AU Eagles to grow and gather as a community. The investment will also feature a new Student Well-Being Center and renovations to the Mary Graydon Center. The 46,000 square-foot CAP will enable AU student-athletes to elevate their competitive performance and it will also expand recreation, fitness, and community-building opportunities for the entire AU community. Centrally located in the heart of campus, these enhanced facilities will provide all students with resources and spaces to learn lifelong skills, further a sense of belonging on campus, foster physical and mental well-being, and build capacity to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
“The Meltzers are helping to transform American University athletics and student life,” said Dr. Billy Walker, Director of Athletics and Recreation at American University. “The Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance’s state of the art competition, practice, and training facilities will enhance the development of our student-athletes, ensure their success in and out of competition, and bolster the overall athletic and recreational experience at AU.”
With this gift, the Meltzer family continues their extraordinary, 50-year commitment to AU through leadership, service, and philanthropy. They have given more to American University’s Change Can’t Wait comprehensive fundraising campaign than any other individuals to date.
Alan Meltzer has served on the AU Board of Trustees since 2007 and is the chair of the Athletics and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees. The year prior he was awarded AU’s Cyrus Ansary Medal in honor of his extraordinary commitment to public service and philanthropy at AU. In 2019, the Meltzers gave a $7 million gift that included their initial $5 million to the CAP and $2 million to establish the Alan L. Meltzer and Amy Meltzer Fellowship for the Center for Israel Studies in the College of Arts of Sciences. Through his own experience as a wrestler at AU, Alan Meltzer understands the value of athletic competition and the community that sports can create for students. In 1998, the Meltzers named the Marilyn Meltzer Wrestling Room in honor of Alan Meltzer’s mother. Alan is also an inspiring example of lifelong learning, recently completing the last requirements of his bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2021, shortly before his 70th birthday.
In 1981, Alan founded The Meltzer Group as a single insurance agent. He grew the company to over 200 dedicated team members across five divisions, and to a point where it was consistently recognized as the largest insurance consultant and one of the largest corporate philanthropists in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The company eventually merged with NFP and the combined NFP | The Meltzer Group today is a diversified comprehensive insurance brokerage and advisory practice.