Brashiers give $3 million toward NGU arena/worship center

Greenville businessman and philanthropist T. Walter Brashier and his wife, Christine, have contributed $3 million to North Greenville University to help fund a new athletics arena and worship center.

The 5,000-seat facility will be named for NGU president Jimmy Epting and his wife, Gretchen, and is slated to open in the fall of 2015.

“We felt deeply that this building should be named the Jimmy and Gretchen Epting Arena/Worship Center,” said Brashier, whose past gifts have funded other buildings on campus. “We appreciate their tireless, dedicated Christian leadership in making North Greenville University what it represents for the kingdom of God today.”

“We are not worthy or deserving of this honor,” said Epting. “We are excited this facility will be used to change more lives for Jesus Christ.”

The arena will be home to the school’s basketball and volleyball teams. The 94,116-square-foot facility will feature a president’s box, a large video scoreboard, four lobbies, six concession areas and 16 office spaces.

The Brashiers’ gift moves the university closer to reaching its $42.7 million GIFT God Campaign “hallelujah goal.” The university announced at a press conference last February that the initial GIFT God Campaign goal of $25 million was surpassed. A new “hallelujah goal” was then set, and $31.4 million has now been raised.

In 2011, Brashier donated the former Steak and Ale restaurant building in Greenville to the university. The building is being remodeled to house the school’s MBA program. School trustees voted to name the location The Tim Brashier Center in memory of the Brashiers’ son, who passed away in September 2012.

Tim Brashier was a 1976 North Greenville alumnus and was active in the family businesses, developing residential real estate and running an aviation servicing company. “We were pleasantly surprised when Dr. Epting informed us that the school trustees wanted to name the satellite school for Tim,” said Brashier, who said his son would have appreciated the fact that the facility will be used to train future business leaders.

Robert C. Cashion Architect, Inc., of Marietta is the architect for the new arena, and Blue Line Consulting, LLC, of Greer is the civil engineer for the project.

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