Donation meant to inspire others for lights on Titan Field

Chuck and Joann Raeder are regular donors to University of Detroit Mercy, but they don’t like to bring attention to themselves.

“We don’t usually talk about that,” said Joann ’69. “We just feel it’s important to support the University and its programming because it makes such a difference for the students, the community and the city.”

They have chosen to promote their recent gift of $100,000 toward installing lights on Titan Field in the hopes it will inspire others to give to what they believe is an important project. The lights are the first step in a significant planned upgrade of the outdoor athletic facilities, which the University sees as an investment in not just the McNichols Campus, but the community that surrounds it as well.

“We think this is an important project because having lights will let the neighbors know something is going on at the University and they should come over,” Joann said. “And whether you’re an athlete or not, good sports facilities are among those little things that catch students’ eyes as they tour campus when they’re choosing a college.”

Lighting the field also allows the University to host tournaments and even playoff games they are currently unable to because post-season games often are scheduled at night.

“Our women’s soccer team has had to play important games on the road because they couldn’t play at home at night,” Joann added. “That means there’s not much of a crowd cheering for them and we didn’t think that was fair.”

Lights would also mean the University could rent the field for night games to high schools that do not have home facilities. Other plans in this stage of what the University is calling the Athletic Village include a new track, new turf and creating an endowed maintenance fund to ensure there is always money available to pay for upkeep.

The Raeders also support their teams with their presence; they can often be seen on the sidelines, cheering on the women’s soccer and basketball teams, getting to know the players. “We think athletics is an important element of the school,” she said.

Student-athletes are great ambassadors for the school, and stronger teams bring more attention from high school students looking to play college sports, she added.

“We continue to support women’s basketball because these young women are not only good on the court, they are good people,” Joann said. “I don’t think they even realize the impact they have on younger people — our granddaughter idolizes them, and wants to be like them. You have to support something like that so it continues.”

Joann says her philanthropy stems from the way her education at Mercy College of Detroit shaped her career. She graduated with an education degree and taught at Catholic Schools before leaving the workforce to raise their daughter, Kelly. She returned to school and earned a master’s in counseling and eventually rose to be director of a Blue Cross/Blue Shield department that designed and implemented benefits for specific accounts.

“I’ve had a varied career,” she said. “But I found that I could take the skills I learned earning my bachelor’s degree, and dealing with children as a teacher and transfer them to the business world.”

Chuck attended University of Detroit, but did not graduate. An entrepreneur, he built from scratch Baseline Constructors, Inc., a Chelsea, Mich.-based construction firm that he ran for more than 30 years before retiring. Today, the two devote their time to being grandparents, volunteer work, and supporting Detroit Mercy in the stands and with their philanthropy.

“We look at the University as a focal point, as something that held the city together during difficult times,” Joann said. “We think it can be a beacon of light for the area and the city.”

To donate to this or any other Detroit Mercy project you wish please visit our Giving page at udmercy.edu/giving.