KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The founder of Chicken N Pickle has donated $2 million to the University of Missouri athletics department.
The Tigers announced the gift Wednesday from Dave Johnson and his wife, Sandra Castetter.
Johnson — a Kansas City, Missouri, native and 1978 Mizzou graduate — formerly worked for Arthur Andersen and Company before starting his own real estate firm.
“I want this donation to challenge others in the state and in the Mizzou community across the world to help support Mizzou Athletics during these challenging times,” Johnson said in a statement from Tigers athletics announcing the donation. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that we give back to Mizzou and support our student-athletes. Let’s do our part this year, no matter how many games or events we can attend!”
MU Athletic Director Jim Sterk described Johnson and Castetter as “tremendous friends” of Tigers athletics.
“We are so grateful that they have stepped forward during this difficult time to make a transformational gift that will have a lasting impact on our program for years to come,” Sterk said. “As Mizzou Athletics’ seeks to Win it Right, our primary mission will continue to afford our student-athletes the best possible academic and athletic experience during their time as Tigers, and in order to continue to do so, contributions such as this, combined with the unwavering support of Mizzou fans everywhere, are vital for us to achieve those goals.”
College athletics have lost millions in revenue after the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tournament and all spring sports were canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 have canceled all fall sports as well, which will further deepen the financial hole for many college athletic departments.
The SEC and Big 12, which includes Kansas and Kansas State, are allowing fall sports to proceed, but attendance has been significantly curtailed at games.
K-State and Mizzou are planning to allow only 25% of capacity into games this season.
