The

Levine Center for Health and Wellness

Queens University of Charlotte

Media Plan
Fact Sheet
Q&A
Backgrounder
Biography
 Media Plan: The Levine Center for
Health and Wellness
Queens University of Charlotte
January 15th, 2012. 10:30a.m.-3pm.

• 10:30 – 11:00: Press arrives and meets in Claudia Belk Dining Hall (signs will be put up for
directions).

• 11:00 - 12:00 Lunch for the Press.

-In attendance will be President of the University, the Athletic Director, and the head coaches
from the following teams:

○ Men's Basketball
○ Women's Basketball
○ Women's Volleyball
○ Men's and Women's Swimming

• 12:15 – 2: 00 Unveiling with speeches from the President and the Athletic Director in the
Levine Center.

• 2:00 – 3:00 Press are allowed to interact with the students as they make their way through and
interact with the activities.

For more information, please contact Jeannie King at 704.555.5555 or kingj@queens.edu.

 Fact Sheet: The Levine Health and Wellness Center
Queens University of Charlotte

QUEENS’ STUDENT BODY: 2,600 students.

THE BUILDING:
The Levine Center will be 130,000 square feet, have 3 levels, and include a food court,
rock climbing wall, dance studio, track and study space. The gym will have moveable
walls, and be large enough to separate into three different courts, or a space for
commencement. There will also be offices for coaches and staff, a weight room, training
room, trophy room, classrooms, conference space, and locker rooms for the Royals and
visiting teams.
INVESTING in QUEENS:
This building will be a “wellness and recreation” area for students where Queens athletics teams will
also participate, compete and train. The school, the Levine Foundation and students feel as if this
building will be a deciding factor for students who are contemplating what school to go to. This
building is part of the “Investing in Queens’ Future Campaign”. This campaign has raised 86 million
dollars of a 100 million dollar goal so far. The money will go to The Levine Center, the new Duke
Energy Building, and some of the money has already been invested in the Marion Diehl Sports
Complex on Tyvola Road.
PAID for BY:
The Levine Foundation donated 7.5 million dollars for this project.
LOCATION:
The center will take the spot of Ovens Athletic Center on campus. While the center is being built, the
athletic teams who participate in the gym will most likely play at the Grady Cole Center.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Athletic Department and Levine Center Contributors (of information and decisions):

Jeannie King, Athletic Director

Cherie Swarthout, Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations
Tim Burke, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance
President Pamela Davies, President of Queens University
LaTanja Batiste, Head Athletic Trainer
Sarah Waple, Director of Sports Information
Paul Johnson, Director of Food Service

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Vice President, Public Relations
Brittany Philip, 704.555.5555 or
Brittany.philip@qmail.queens.edu

Specific Info From: http://www.queens.edu/Give-to-Queens/Spotlight-Stories/Queens-gets-landmark-%E2%80%98assist

%E2%80%99.html
 Q & A : The Levine Health and Wellness Center
Queens University of Charlotte

Q: When will the Facility be Finished?

A: The Campaign of “Investing in Queens” runs through 2012. The University set goals, and it hopes that
the facility will be finished by then for use – pending construction hurdles.

Q: What Kind of Food will be Offered in the Food Court?

A: Food Services have conducted research on campus for the center. They want the students, and some
faculty to choose since they will be the ones eating in the facility the most. The choices on the survey
were; healthy snacks, smoothies, fast food, wraps, pasta choices and salads. The decision will come down
to what the student body ultimately chose during the survey.

Q: Will Other Students (Non- Athletes) be able to Use the facility?

A: Yes. The athletes will use the facility for their respected sport, to train, practice, and perform; however,
the rest of the facility is geared toward a community of wellness and recreation for the entire student body.
There will be PE classes offered for all students in The Levine Center, along with a track, gym and rock
wall all open to the student body. The food court is also for everyone.

Q: Where Will the Royals play while the Facility is Being Constructed?
A: The basketball and volleyball teams will play at the Grady Cole Center. Ovens Athletic Center will be
demolished, and the Levine Center will be built up. They will spend about 2 full seasons playing off
campus.

Q: How Will the Levine Center Have an Impact on Queens?

A: This facility is being called a “first-rate” facility. The Center will give possible students a reason to say
“Queens is better than everywhere else”. Queens has a record of Academic excellence. Now, building the
facilities around campus will make the University a better one, and make students realize the appeal of the
school.
 Backgrounder: The Levine Center of Health and Wellness
Queens University of Charlotte

Leon Levine of the Leon Levine Foundation was born June 8, 1937. During his adolescent his family
owned The Hub, a department store in Rockingham, North Carolina. Working for The Hub Leon learned how
to manage and many other important business lessons. Before beginning the popular Family Dollar chain,
Leon opened a chenille bedspread factory in Wingate, North Carolina. After gaining confidence from the
factory Leon opened his first Family Dollar Store in Charlotte in November of 1959. The chains took off
rapidly and he was soon worth $15 million. When he retired in 2003 he grossed his business to over 4600
stores and grew his revenue to $1.1 billion.
The Leon Levine Foundation was created in 1980 with the help of his daughter Amy. Leon found that
it was important to continually give back to the community that gave him his career. The mission of the Leon
Levine Foundation is to,"… improve and advance human condition in four major areas: Education,
Healthcare, Jewish Religion and Human Services. It exists to support individuals and institutions seeking to
accomplish the following:
• Supporting the physically, mentally or emotionally ill through medical assistance and scientific
research
• Pursuing academic excellence and providing access for disadvantaged and deserving individuals
• Building Jewish identity and strengthening Jewish Communities locally and worldwide
• Eliminating homelessness, alleviating personal crisis, improving the lives of families, children
and the elderly and supporting cultural activities
• Responding to other emerging issues which could have a significant impact on society."

Queens University of Charlotte is currently undergoing the $100 million "Investing in Queens' Future"
and the donation received from the Leon Levine Foundation will provide a three story building focused on
health and wellness. The building will house a performance gym, Department of Athletics administrative
suits, grad lobby, student fitness center, indoor track, outdoor swimming pool, health and wellness center,
climbing wall, student commons/ food court, aerobics and dance studios.

All information was taken from http://leonlevinefoundation.org/mission.html

 Biography of the Levine Foundation
Queens University of Charlotte

Leon Levine is the founder of the Family Dollar stores located throughout North Carolina. His first wife

died of Breast Cancer in 1966 he remarried in 1978 to Sandra. Sandra is an asset to the Charlotte

community and cares a lot about cultural and educational programs and organizations. From this she

helped create the Levine Foundation, which officially began in 1980. The foundation to date is one of the

largest philanthropic organizations in the country. The Levine Foundation has given money to form The

Levine Museum of the New South, The Levine Children’s hospital, and its most recent grant to Queens

University of Charlotte for Levine Center for Health and Wellness. This granted Queens with $7.9 million

in order to enhance the wellness of the school.

All information was taken from http://leonlevinefoundation.org/mission.html