Denis Nayden, former GE Capital CEO and chairman, and his wife Britta Nayden have donated $3 million to the UConn Basketball Champions Center and for scholarships for student athletes, the school announced.
The $35 million center, which is under construction, will receive $1 million of the sum, as will student athlete and trainer scholarships.
The school is trying to raise the entire cost of the center through private donations. With the Naydens’ donation, it has raised $27 million.
The final $1 million of the gift is intended to be used as a match to spur donations from former UConn Husky basketball players to the program.
The Naydens graduated from UConn in 1976. Denis Nayden is a managing partner with Oak Hill Capital Management. He has also been a UConn trustee since 2001.
A rehabilitation clinic at UConn’s Neag School of Education was named after Britta Nayden in 2003 following a donation from the couple.