On Friday,the University of Montana announced a $7 million gift from the Washington Foundation that will help build a new combination weight room and locker room facility.

UM Athletic Director Kent Haslam said the gift is coming from the next generation of the Washington family.

Locker Room View
photo courtesy of UM
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"The gift is coming from Kyle and Kevin Washington, the sons of Phyllis and Dennis Washington, who made a $7 million gift on behalf of their foundation," Haslam said. "This will go directly to building our new Washington-Grizzly Champions Center, which will house a new football locker room, as well as an all student athlete weight room."

Haslam said the new facility will be built on the southwest corner of Washington-Grizzly stadium, once the plan is approved by the Montana Board of Regents.

Stadium View
photo courtesy of UM
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Haslam said the facility will dwarf the current weight rooms and locker rooms currently used by players.

"The total gross square footage will be over 40,000 square feet," he said. "Our football locker room will go from about 2,500 square feet to about 7,000 square feet, and then our weight room will grow to over 17,000 square feet, which is greatly needed by our athletes as we move forward."

Haslam said plans and construction will begin in earnest once approval is received from the Board of Regents.

The foundation has given more than $150 million to various causes since it was established in 1988.

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