“[Vince Vidas] was just so grateful for what Drexel did for him and he always thought that if he could assist other young men and women to receive the same opportunities as he did, they would succeed on the field and in life.” — Director of Athletics Eric Zillmer.
By his own admission, Jim Bean ’91 was not the world’s greatest lacrosse player during his two seasons at Drexel. He may, however, have one of the most important lasting legacies.
Bean and his wife, Christine, have donated a $1 million challenge toward the renovation of the Vidas Athletic Complex. While the gift will go toward the $3.5 million project that will transform the facility, Bean says he’s hoping to impact more than athletics.
“I think there are several pillars of significance for any university,” he says. “If we can raise our game a little bit athletically and with the facilities around it, it can put us in a different place than we are today. My motivation is bigger than just sports. It’s how do we help Drexel check all the boxes that take the University to the next level?”
The gift and renovation project are particularly poignant because of the November death of legendary Drexel football player Vince Vidas ’59, ’64, at age 86. The facility is named for him and his wife, Judy, both longtime supporters of the athletic department.
“I knew Vince well,” Director of Athletics Eric Zillmer says. “He was unpretentious and humble, even though he was a giant and a very successful person. I believe he would simply say that he would be happy that his gift was useful and that it meant something to somebody. He was just so grateful for what Drexel did for him and he always thought that if he could assist other young men and women to receive the same opportunities as he did, they would succeed on the field and in life.”
Planned improvements to the facility include new seating for 1,600 spectators, a film tower on top of the seating structure, a new plaza entrance with a permanent ticket office, new concession and merchandise areas, team rooms, storage areas, an officials’ locker room and restrooms. Construction will start immediately, Zillmer says, but the projects may take three to five years to complete. All gifts and commitments $25,000 and above will be matched dollar for dollar up to $1 million by the Beans. Already, an alumnus has provided support for a new state-of-the-art LED video scoreboard.
Jim and Christine are both former Apple executives, now entrepreneurs and seed investors in tech and health care companies. As the former vice president of retail at Apple Inc., Bean led a global team and oversaw the operations of more than 450 stores in 17 countries. He grew up in nearby Havertown, and chose Drexel because of its academic reputation, its co-op program — and the opportunity to play lacrosse.
“I loved playing sports all throughout high school, and to be able to play Division I lacrosse for two years was an incredible honor and gift to me,” he says. “Drexel prepared me to jump into the working world and have a significant leg up.”
He’s hoping today’s Drexel students embrace that same advantage. Zillmer says the Beans’ gift will be a catalyst in helping to boost the athletic program, and thus, the entire University.
“Drexel Athletics has grown to become a vibrant and dynamic part of the campus that touches upon the pulse of our University’s heartbeat,” he says. “This gift will kickstart our Vidas campaign and transform the complex’s lower field, which is the training and competition ground for some of Drexel’s winningest Division I teams — men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer. The renovations will give student-athletes a state-of-the art playing field, with a stadium-like look, that matches their skills, talents and ambitions.”
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE VIDAS ATHLETIC COMPLEX
- New seating for 1,600 spectators.
- Film tower on top of the seating structure.
- New plaza entrance with permanent ticket office.
- New concession and merchandise areas.
- Team rooms.
- Storage areas.
- Officials’ locker room.
- Restrooms.