Salesianum School, Wilmington, announced a $16 million gift from the Rocco A. and Mary Abessinio Foundation to fund a new multi-use stadium complex and support the school’s endowment.
This gift is the third largest to a Catholic secondary school in U.S. history and unprecedented for a Delaware high school, according to the announcement.
Rocco Abessinio is a member of the male Catholic high school ’s class of 1959.
Rocco Abessinio founded credit card lender Applied Card Services in Delaware and has expanded family holdings to include hotels, commercial real estate and a supplier of waffles and equipment for hotels and other establishments.
Salesianium plans to rebuild Baynard Stadium under the terms of a long-term lease that will guarantee the use of the facility by other schools and the community. The transaction came after concerns over access to the stadium that has been the site of state football championships and other events.
The City of Wilmington also announced that it will upgrade a park on the city’s east side.
City, Salesianum School announce tentative $8 million lease deal for stadium
