Fresno State athletics received a $1 million donation last week from the Diamond Learning Center and its CEO, Jami Hamel DeLaCerda.
Athletics held a press conference with DeLaCerda, Fresno State Athletic Director, Garrett Klassy and Fresno State Football Head Coach, Matt Entz, at the Diamond Learning Center on Monday.
Along with recognizing DeLaCerda’s donation at the press conference, Klassy also emphasized the new Valley Co-op fund. The donation has inspired others to donate to the fund as well, according to Klassy. It now sits at $1.4 million.
“With college athletics changing, we intend to be [at] the forefront of this new era,” Klassy said.
The $1 million donation will help Fresno State Football in developing its program, retaining players and helping them prepare for life after the gridiron.
“There’s always life after football,” Entz said. “Football ends at one point, and you better have the tools and characteristics and the know-how to be successful in the business world.”
DeLaCerda attended Fresno State after moving from British Columbia, Canada, following a difficult upbringing. She had moved back home after her mother took her own life, but when she came back, she said Fresno was a city that embraced her and made her feel welcome like no other place.
“The Valley hugged me and held onto me so tightly,” DeLaCerda said. “We’re [the Valley] competitive, we play hard, we work hard, but we really love hard,” DeLaCerda said.
She shares the same desire to help athletes grow not only as players, but as humans as well.
The Diamond Learning Center aims to help those with developmental disabilities by providing the proper guidance for each student. According to DeLaCerda, volunteers, many being Fresno State athletes, leave the building with changed perspectives and leave an impact on the students.
“I honestly believe that when they’re playing, sometimes they may think about students,” DeLaCerda said.
She also explained the impact that Fresno State Athletics has on the Diamond Learning Center.
“To that student, he’s a rockstar, whether he’s in football or not, he’s wearing the logo,” DeLaCerda said.
