YSU breaks ground for Cafaro Family Field

An architect’s rendering of the new Cafaro Family Field, currently under construction on Elm Street across from the Cafaro House Residence Hall. The field is expected to open for the start of fall semester at YSU. (YSU)

The Youngstown State University community and the Cafaro family gathered on Monday, May 20 to officially break ground for the new Cafaro Family Field on the north side of campus.

The new athletic field will be located immediately north of the Madison Avenue Expressway on the east side Elm Street and across from Cafaro House residence hall at YSU.

The $2.5-million field for student intramural and club sports is funded in part through a $1.5 million gift from the Cafaro family. The gift is part of the $100 million “We See Tomorrow” fundraising campaign, the largest in the university’s history.

The athletic field will be used for a variety of student recreational activities, including soccer, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee and is expected to be open in time for the start of the fall semester in August. The new facility is intended to help serve the university’s growing enrollment, especially students living on campus.

The $2.5-million field for student intramural and club sports is funded in part through a $1.5 million gift from the Cafaro family.

Overall enrollment was up this year for the third time in the last four years and all residence halls and apartments were again at capacity with nearly 2,300 students.

“With so many more students on campus, we want to make sure that we provide an environment that meets the needs of our students, including recreation,” said Joy Pokabla Byers, YSU director of Campus Recreation.

The Cafaro Foundation is a charitable entity established in memory of William M. Cafaro and his wife, Alyce, by their children, Anthony M. Cafaro, John J. Cafaro and Flora M. Cafaro.

For more than a half century, William, Alyce and brother John A. Cafaro supported churches, schools, hospitals and other charitable causes. The Cafaro Company is one of the nation’s largest privately held real estate development firms, having developed more than 30 million square feet of property in 14 states.

The Cafaros’ support for YSU dates to the 1960s. William M. Cafaro was a key advocate for Youngstown University becoming a state public university in 1968. He also was one of the founders and one of the first board members of the YSU Foundation. William’s son, Anthony Sr., is a 1968 graduate and currently a member of the board of the YSU Foundation.

Anthony’s wife, Phyllis, served on the campaign cabinet for the YSU Centennial Capital Campaign. Anthony and Phyllis’ sons, Anthony Jr. and William, a 1992 YSU graduate, now lead the company. John J. Cafaro and his wife, Jan, have also been ardent supporters of the university; their daughter, Capri Cafaro, currently serves on the YSU Board of Trustees.