Holdens Pledge $500,000 To Molalla High School Sports Complex

A campaign to Make Critical Upgrades to Increase Usability

Terry and Cheryl Holden

Momentum is soaring for the $3.35 million campaign to transform Molalla High School’s Burghardt Sports Complex. Philanthropists Terry (class of 1968) and Cheryl Holden have pledged a transformational $500,000 gift. The Holden’s are splitting their gift with $250,000 supporting the major capital improvements and $250,000 going to an ongoing maintenance fund, ensuring that the facility remains in use for many generations.

The Molalla River School District embarked on this bold campaign to make critical upgrades to Burghardt Sports Complex to increase usability; reduce ongoing maintenance of grass, which frequently becomes unplayable; and provide modern, safe and durable facilities. The installation of all-weather turf on the main field and the resurfacing of the track will increase the usability for football, soccer, track and community events, such as graduation ceremonies.

Molalla River Schools Superintendent Tony Mann expressed his deep gratitude for the gift. “Molalla River Schools has benefited from the generosity of the Holdens in the past. This major gift sets us on a path to successfully provide improved, year-round facilities that will benefit athletes of all ages and our community.”

The Holdens’ gift is part of a larger $3.35 million campaign to modernize the Burghardt Sports Complex and secure its future for generations of Molalla students and families. Thanks to early leadership commitments, including a $1 million lead gift from alumni Dale and Julie Burghardt, the campaign is well underway.

With the Holdens’ donation, the campaign now has just $900,000 left to raise to fully fund the project. If the remaining resources are secured by early next year, construction is slated to begin in summer 2026.

Molalla High School Athletic Director Mike Lord noted the impact on the school's mission. "Molalla athletics is about excellence in character, academics, and athletics. The Holdens joining this effort gives me hope that we will realize the ideal athletic program and the dividends from those investments well into the future, assuring that the facilities reflect excellence.”

The Holdens are long-term donors with a primary focus on education, health care, and veterans. They have previously invested in scholarships for high-achieving Molalla graduates, the Hobart Locker Room, and supported Career Technical Education programs at Molalla High School.

In 2021, Holdens made a major donation to Clackamas Community College. Their donation provides needed funding for career technical education (CTE) scholarships, facilities and program development. Several Molalla students and graduates have benefited from the scholarship program and facilities at the Holden Industrial Technical Center.

The Holdens’ philanthropy extends beyond Molalla and surrounding areas. The Holdens have supported and made major contributions to OHSU for the benefit of the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and the Casey Eye Clinic.  They also recently made a major contribution to the Cleveland Clinic and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Terry Holden believes deeply in the value of active giving and supporting worthy public programs. “If and when you have the opportunity to help others, I would encourage you to pay it forward,” he said.

Cheryl Holden is often quoted as saying, “Giving is very rewarding.  What better way to use your money?  When you buy things, you don’t own anything, it owns you.  But when you give from your heart, it can’t be measured. It just feels good.”  Terry Holden added, “In the case of the upgrades to the football field and track at the Burghardt Sports Complex, it feels very good and is an extremely worthwhile project which will benefit the students and residents of Molalla for many years.  We are proud to support and follow the leadership of our good friends Dale and Julie Burghardt.  I invite my fellow alumni and business owners to join the Burghardt’s and us to quickly raise the remaining funds to realize the opportunity for students to develop their minds, character, and bodies.”