Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez is $13 million away from fulfilling his pledge to students to raise $23 million for the construction of a Recreation, Wellness and Events Center because of a $10 million donation from business owner Alex G. Spanos and his wife, Faye.

According to a financial summary submitted on March 10, the RWEC requires $25 million in fund raising with $10 million readily available at the time of building, and $110 per semester from students. Gonzalez only pledged $23 million in fund raising, according to an Oct. 4 news release.

Ann Reed, associate vice president of public affairs, said she doesn’t know where the $2 million confusion came from.

The large donation from the Spanos family is just one of many donations they have given to Sac State and other educational institutions.

“He has made well over $1 million to upgrade (our) track facilities,” Reed said. “(Spanos) has helped bring the Olympic Trials to the university and focused on stadium and athletic venues by putting in a new track and practice track along with many other upgrades.”

The $10 million donation to Sac State will start the remodeling of Hornet Stadium and the construction of the $73 million, 236,000 square-foot multi-purpose center, according to the Oct. 4 news release.

“He wants the money spent for the (RWEC) only,” said Natalia Orfanos, spokesperson for Spanos.

Spanos’ interest in the donation started with the Olympic Trials and extended into his beliefs that Sac State is valuable to the community and the region.

“He was impressed by Gonzalez’s and the university’s goals,” Orfanos said.

Some students are thankful for the donation.

“It will help athletics out a lot,” said Christina Heagney, a freshman with an undeclared major.

Other students feel the money won’t affect them.

“I’ll be long gone by then, but I think it’s an awesome gesture,” said Jeff Hong, a senior majoring in biological sciences.

Besides their donations to Sac State, the Spanos family has also largely contributed to the University of the Pacific’s campus.

“The Spanos family has been a long-time supporter and significant donor for the university,” said Joe Brennan, spokesman and executive director of marketing relations for UOP.

The Alex Spanos Center at UOP has 6,150 seats and holds all of the Pacific Conference men’s and women’s basketball games, volleyball matches and other sporting events, plus concerts, cultural productions, trade shows and community functions.

The building cost over $7 million and played host to some of the largest volleyball crowds in the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s history, including two final fours and, most recently, the 2001 State Farm Volleyball Classic.

The Faye Spanos Concert Center serves as the university’s concert hall. Brennan would not say how much the Spanos family donated to UOP.

“It’s university policy not to release (donation) dollar amounts,” Brennan said.

The Spanos family has also made significant donations to other educational facilities, including an elementary school sports field, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San Diego State University.

Spanos’ philanthropy supports human rights, including educational opportunity and a wide variety of civic, educational, athletic and arts organizations.

“I believe I have a sacred duty to share my good fortune with my church, my community, my fellow Greek Americans and my family … giving just does my heart good,” said Spanos about his book “Sharing the Wealth.”

Spanos grew up around his father’s bakery business and survived on $40 per week. At 27 years old, he left the family business and took out an $800 loan, transforming it into a multi-million dollar corporation.

Spanos and his family own and manage A.G. Spanos Companies, which builds, manages and sells multi-family housing units to communities throughout the United States. He also owns the NFL team, the San Diego Chargers.

The donation will be evaluated by Marion O’Leary, interim vice president of university advancement and dean of the college of natural sciences and mathematics.

According to Sac State policy, the vice president for university advancement evaluates and accepts all gifts and donations to the university campus. O’Leary stepped into the position July 1 after Robert Jones left the position and the university. Carol Hayashino, from San Francisco State University, will assume the position Oct. 25.