Regent University Hosts Night of Giving 2026: The Grand Slam
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (April 28, 2026) — On April 24, Regent University hosted its second annual Night of Giving: The Grand Slam, benefiting Regent’s future Athletic & Fitness Center. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening of dining, a silent auction, and an unforgettable keynote address from baseball legend Darryl Strawberry.
The event celebrated Regent’s expanding collegiate sports program, shared a vision for campus growth, and raised the remaining funds needed to build a state-of-the-art Athletic & Fitness Center. The 31-acre campus expansion will include a 2,000-seat NCAA championship arena; multi-sport stadiums, courts, and fields; a fully equipped sports medicine clinic; a weight room and fitness center; and an atrium with a café, student lounge, and banquet space.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from Claire Foster, Executive Vice President of Advancement & Enrollment, who recognized distinguished guests in attendance, including:
- Bobby Dyer, Mayor of Virginia Beach
- Anne Ferrell Tata, Virginia State Delegate
- Cash Jackson-Green, Virginia Beach Councilman
- Steve Best, Regent University Trustee
Presenting sponsor Heartland Construction set the tone for the evening with opening remarks from President Erich Stichler, who spoke of the company’s support and excitement for Regent’s future.
“We’re a proud partner with Regent to help create these new athletic facilities that will help Regent equip Christian leaders to change the world,” Stichler said. “This facility is more than a few fields or a gymnasium — this is an investment in people and purpose.”
Following a blessing of the meal offered by Director of Athletics Michael Allen, Mayor Bobby Dyer delivered the program introduction, celebrating the university’s remarkable growth and the promise of Regent’s upcoming campus expansion.
“This academic year, Regent has the largest student body in its history,” Dyer said. “With that growth comes the great need for new facilities to accommodate a bright and burgeoning student population. These facilities will become a vibrant center for competition and camaraderie, while serving the greater Hampton Roads community.”
The evening continued with a Grand Slam Panel discussion featuring three Regent Royals student athletes: Andy Knox of the university’s inaugural baseball team, Connor Henriques of the men’s soccer team, and Hannah Wilkinson of the women’s soccer team. The student athletes shared how faith, teamwork, and the Regent community have shaped their lives on and off the field, passionate about the difference the new Athletic & Fitness Center will make for future generations of Regent Royals.
“When you invest in the [Athletic & Fitness Center], it’s far more than investing in the student athletes now, but you’re also investing in all the future student athletes that are going to walk through those doors,” Wilkinson said. “This is far more than just athletics for us; this is our mission field. By investing in us, you’re also helping us to fulfill our mission and grow the kingdom of God.”
Regent University Trustee Steve Best then introduced the evening’s keynote speaker. Darryl Strawberry, a four-time World Series Champion, eight-time Major League Baseball All-Star, and 1983 National League Rookie of the Year, captivated the room with a powerful and personal testimony of faith, redemption, and restoration. His career with the New York Mets and New York Yankees brought him to the pinnacle of professional sports — but it was his journey through addiction, personal loss, two bouts with cancer, and ultimate surrender to Jesus Christ that defined the message he brought to Virginia Beach.
“When you sow into Regent, you’re sowing into the eternal,” Strawberry said. “These kids especially, they need this. This facility — it’s incredible what’s going to be here. Do you know how many young people are going to be impacted by that? A whole community. Be proud of it.”
Drew Friedrich, President of Operation Blessing and a proud Regent alumnus, challenged the audience to make a difference. Friedrich reminded attendees that generous giving yields abundant return — and that the next generation of world-changing leaders is ready, but needs the investment of those who believe in their calling.
“[These students] need a place like Regent,” Friedrich said. “They need you. What you’re giving here is not just to a university. You’re giving to a movement, an eternal movement. When we equip these students to change the world, we’re participating in something that outlasts each and every one of us.”
Foster closed the program by expressing gratitude for the Regent community. “You’re not just building buildings — you’re building lives and investing in our students,” she said. “Our new Athletic & Fitness Center will equip Regent students to pursue excellence, develop strong character, and compete at the highest levels while growing in faith and leadership.”
To support the Athletic & Fitness Center, visit regent.edu/royalsrise. Legacy tile opportunities are available for $5,000 each or a recurring monthly gift of $139 for 36 months. Visit regent.edu/legacy200 to reserve your spot.
About Regent University
Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with nearly 14,000 students studying on its 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online worldwide. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 14 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and the No. 1 Best Christian College in America (Bible College Online, 2025).
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