A Catholic high school in Morris County will be building a new health and fitness center for students after receiving $2.5 million from an alumnus and his spouse, officials said.
Morris Catholic High School said the donation is the largest in its history. The school was founded in 1957 in Denville.
The couple wishes to remain anonymous, the high school said in announcing the gift Tuesday.
Plans to build the two-story, $3 million addition were already underway but got a final push after last week’s $2.5 million donation, said Morris Catholic High School principal Brian Vohden.
Construction on the 15,000-square-foot health and fitness center is expected to begin in late spring, with additional donors helping to fund the project, Vohden said.
It will include a 25-foot-tall, all-glass wall with a view of the high school’s football field.
“This extraordinary gift reflects a deep belief in the mission and future of Morris Catholic. For nearly seven decades, Morris Catholic has formed young men and women in faith, scholarship, and service. This generosity shows the value our community places on having attended Morris Catholic and in helping today’s students,” Vohden said.
The new health and fitness center will be open to all students and provide space for physical education classes and strength and conditioning programs, the high school said.
It also will be used by the high school’s athletic teams and include exterior restroom facilities, a concession stand and retail space, officials said.
The first floor will house new weights, benches and equipment, with treadmills, bikes and rowing machines on the second floor.
In a statement provided by the high school, the anonymous donors said they “wanted to make an immediate impact” and help students “thrive physically, mentally, academically, and spiritually, resulting in a truly abundant life.”
The high school currently enrolls around 350 students.
N.J. Catholic high school gets $2.5M donation to build huge fitness center
