STONY BROOK, N.Y., September 11, 2012 – Stony Brook University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell and his wife, Kate, have generously donated $50,000 back to the university, with $25,000 going towards the men’s basketball program and $25,000 going towards Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook Director of Athletics Jim Fiore announced Thursday. Pikiell’s donation is the largest ever given by an active staff member of Stony Brook Athletics.

Stony Brook University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Pikiell, his wife, Kate, and family.

The $25,000 going towards the Children’s Hospital will be matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous donor to the Children’s Hospital, bringing the total value of the gift to $75,000. The Pikiells, who are residents of Stony Brook and active participants in the Three Village community, have four children, Brooke (13), John Patrick (11), Olivia (9) and Kevin (6).

 “Stony Brook University means so much to my family and me,” Pikiell said. “For us, it was the obvious decision to give back to the university, the hospital and the community that have given so much to our family.

 “We love living in Stony Brook, love engaging with the Three Village Community and love being a part of Seawolves Athletics,” Pikiell said. “As a University, we have come so far, so fast and we truly are headed towards even bigger and brighter successes; and I could not be more excited to be a part of it.”

“I want to thank Steve and Kate for their tremendous generosity,” Fiore said. “Coach Pikiell’s donation on behalf of his family is just the latest example of the exceptional leadership he displays each and every day. Not only is he a very talented coach and mentor, but he is also an incredible ambassador for our university and an integral part of our community. My hope is that the Pikiells’ generosity, along with that of many others who continue to be so supportive of our efforts, will help to foster new gifts from our constituents as we continue the upward trajectory of Stony Brook Athletics.”

“Stony Brook Children’s truly appreciates Coach Pikiell’s generous support,” said Dr. Margaret McGovern, Physician-in-Chief of Stony Brook Long Island Children's Hospital. “The children's hospital and Stony Brook Athletics often have an opportunity to partner to raise awareness and funds to fight childhood diseases; this gift from Coach Pikiell and his family was unexpected, and we are grateful that when making this gift he thought of the smallest and most vulnerable patients here at Stony Brook.”

Pikiell, who recently signed a contract extension through the 2016-17 season, is heading into his eighth season as head coach and has been at the helm of a basketball renaissance at Stony Brook.  Over the past three seasons, the Seawolves have posted a pair of 20-win seasons, won the America East regular season championship twice, advanced to the America East Championship final in back-to-back seasons and appeared in the prestigious National Invitation Tournament (NIT) twice.

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About Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital:

Established in June 2010, Stony Brook Long Island Children's Hospital is Suffolk County’s only children’s hospital. More than 7,000 children and adolescents are admitted each year. Stony Brook Children’s operates 100 pediatric beds and has more than 140 full-time pediatric physicians and surgeons and over 200 voluntary pediatric faculty members in 30 different specialties. The hospital is the Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center for our area and has a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is home to the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center and also offers a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program, Pediatric Cardiology Program, Pediatric HIV and AIDS Center, Cystic Fibrosis Center and the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookchildrens.org.