Illuminating generosity
On hand at the ceremony were the Tuckers, UNH President Elizabeth Chilton and UNH Director of Athletics Allison Rich. But perhaps the most excited attendees were the young athletes — whether 2 or 22 years old — who will call the field home: members of the UNH men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams and youth groups from Stratham and the Oyster River Youth Association (ORYA). That crowd joined in for a countdown before the lights were turned on.
“We are here to celebrate the lighting of this field — a powerful symbol of energy, pride and possibility at UNH. Light brings people together, and tonight it shines on a facility that will strengthen our community for generations,” Chilton said. “This moment would not be possible without the extraordinary generosity of the Tucker family. I want to extend our deepest thanks. Your philanthropy has transformed this space, making it more accessible, more inclusive and more impactful for student-athletes and community members alike.”
The Tuckers are longtime supporters of UNH Athletics, and their gift for the lights was a significant step in transforming Tucker Field into a stadium. The field was built during the 2018-19 academic year and has been a resource for UNH varsity programs, ORYA and other groups.
For Greg Tucker, the event was meaningful on many levels. He and his wife have used their philanthropy at UNH and at ORYA’s Tibbetts Field to create a sense of community and connection through sports.
“Activities and sports bring people together, because we all want to belong. We wanted to make that connection between youth sports all the way up through varsity level,” he says. “We wanted to create a barrier-free environment so whether you’re playing as a preschooler, or in wheelchair soccer or all the way up through D1 at UNH, you can compete at any level.”
Greg is founder, vice chairman and CEO of ProAmpac, a leading global flexible packaging company, and serves on the UNH Director of Athletics Advisory Board (DAAB) and the Northeast Passage Futures Board. Corinna Tucker is a UNH professor emerita and an active member of the DAAB.
The Tuckers have established and are involved in multiple foundations and nonprofit organizations, including the Eleanor & Clarence Prevo Foundation, the Tucker Foundation and the ProAmpac Employee Assistance Fund.
Greg, a 1992 Worcester Polytechnic Institute grad, also has a soft spot for the sport of soccer. “I wouldn’t have been able to go to college without soccer. I wouldn’t even have applied,” Tucker said after the lighting ceremony, as a line of men’s soccer players waited to shake his hand and say thank you — and talk a bit about their shared passion for life on the pitch.