Donne StorinoFor questions, please call or email:
7650 Idlewyld Road
Richmond, VA 23225
Foundation President Donne Storino at 804-323-7179
Golf Chairman Wayne Bradshaw at 310-543-9393
Golf Starter Keith McGrath at 804-370-9070
The University of Richmond has received the necessary approvals from the City of Richmond to move forward with its plans to expand First Market Stadium on the campus of the university. The City Council voted July 28 at its scheduled council meeting to pass the ordinance granting a special use permit to the university, allowing it to develop and operate a multi-use outdoor stadium for up to 8,700 spectators.
The project calls for the expansion of First Market Stadium into a state-of-the-art multipurpose athletic facility, which will serve as the home of the Richmond football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams, as well as community events such as the Virginia Special Olympics. Architectural design has been progressing over the summer, and work on the stadium is expected to begin early in the spring semester. Approval by the City Council allows the project to remain on schedule to open for the 2010 football season.
This means Homecoming 2010 could be the first ever where we gather at the lodge for pre-game and then simply walk across the street to the game. Can't wait.
Rodney Poole performs an amazing balancing act. He is one of the foremost adoption attorneys in the nation. He also serves as senior vice president and general counsel of The Wilton Companies, a firm that owns and develops apartments, office buildings, industrial properties, and shopping centers in central Virginia.“My time is supposed to be split 50/50,” he says. “I like to say that means 50 hours a week on each.”
Adoption law is personal for Poole, the father of two adopted children, a biological daughter, and a stepson. He inherited his passion for helping adoptive families from his late father, Travis, an attorney and former foster child who was dedicated to placing children in permanent homes. Poole grew up knowing he wanted to follow his father’s example. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, he joined the elder Poole in establishing Poole & Poole in Richmond.
Approximately 3,000 cases later, he is a leader in the field. Poole is a past president of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He also served for nine years as liaison between the academy and the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC), helping to build relationships that make it easier to adopt children across state lines.
He is a recipient of the AAICPC’s Mitchell Wendell Jurist Award in recognition of “extraordinary accomplishment on behalf of children,” as well as the Angel in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
In 2002, Poole joined Henry L. Wilton and UR Trustee Rich Johnson, B’73, in the acquisition of The Wilton Companies. In five years, they have quadrupled the value of the company’s real estate portfolio.
Poole’s family, which includes wife Lauree and mother Helen, is actively involved with UR. Each year a deserving student benefits from an accounting scholarship the family has established in memory of Poole’s two late brothers, Travis Jr., B’73, and Craig, B’73.
