Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Virginia Athletics and the Virginia Athletics Foundation announced Wednesday that Pete and Jodi Lyons are making a transformative $10 million commitment to endow scholarships for UVA’s volleyball and women’s soccer programs, including philanthropic cash support, a VAF match, and a future planned gift.
Pete, a 1977 graduate of the University of Virginia, was an attorney, whose practice focused on U.S. and cross-border public and private mergers and acquisitions. Jodi, a 1976 graduate of the University of Maryland, hails from an athletic family, as her father played minor league baseball in the Philadelphia Athletics farm system.
Since moving to Charlottesville, Pete and Jodi have become season ticket holders for several of our programs. Their relationships with volleyball coach Shannon Wells and women’s soccer coach Steve Swanson and their staffs have been a driving force in their generous giving. The family remains deeply impressed by the caliber of young women recruited and signed by these coaches and they are fully committed to supporting their academic and athletic endeavors.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
Half of the commitment will go to endow volleyball scholarships named in honor of Pete and Jodi’s fathers, Bernard T. Lyons and Joseph A. Magennis, who were both successful athletes.
The second half of the commitment will go to the establishment of the Lyons Family Scholarships for Women’s Soccer.
The Lyons hope that these gifts will inspire others and drive continued success for UVA student-athletes.
Message From Kevin Miller – Virginia Athletics Foundation Executive Director
“We are deeply grateful to Pete and Jodi for their extraordinary generosity and vision. This transformational commitment will have a lasting impact on our volleyball and women’s soccer programs, supporting our student-athletes today while strengthening their future for years to come.”
Message From Shannon Wells – UVA Volleyball Head Coach
“Pete and Jodi Lyons’ continued generosity is an investment in women, Olympic sports, and the future of Virginia Volleyball. What makes their support so meaningful is that it extends far beyond a financial gift. They have become incredible friends of our program, student-athletes and families. They cheer from the stands, open doors for our athletes through their professional networks, mentor our athletes, and even welcome our team to their house for some amazing food, desserts, and hospitality. On a personal level, they have been unbelievable mentors and supporters to me as we navigate unprecedented times in college athletics.
This gift solidifies the future of our program and creates more opportunities for our student-athletes to compete for championships. Our program is incredibly grateful for the Lyons’ family!”
Message From Steve Swanson – UVA Women’s Soccer Head Coach
“Pete and Jodi Lyons have been so supportive of Virginia Women’s Soccer for such a long time now. This gift is transformational and will help our program for years and years to come. We have had some amazing young women come to Charlottesville and thrive here academically and athletically, only to go on to make even more of a difference in society at large in many different fields. This gift will help us as we continue to attract the very best students and athletes to Virginia, not just now but in the future. It is the generosity of people like Pete and Jodi that makes the University of Virginia community such a special one.”
About Virginia Athletics Foundation
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
