YOUNGSTOWN — Jim and Melissa DiBacco, longtime supporters of Youngstown State University, have made a $100,000 contribution to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign.

The DiBaccos’ donation will support the naming of one of the basketball courts in the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center, a key space that promotes student health and wellness on campus.

“We’re proud to contribute to a place that has played such an important role in our community and in our family’s life,” Jim DiBacco said. “This gift is a small way for us to give back to YSU, which has provided so much to our community and to the students who make it thrive.”

The DiBaccos have a long history of supporting YSU. In 2018, they made a transformative gift to the Rich Center for Autism, helping to expand the center’s space and programs and in 2020, the DiBaccos donated $420,000 for the Jim and Melissa DiBacco Family Leadership Center in Stambaugh Stadium. Their latest gift to the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign further highlights their dedication to enhancing student life and educational opportunities at the university.

“Jim and Melissa’s support of Youngstown State University is a testament to their unwavering commitment to this community,” said Scott Schulick, chair of the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign. “We are deeply grateful for their leadership and their investment in the future of our university.”

YSU President Bill Johnson also expressed his gratitude for the DiBaccos’ contribution. “The DiBacco family has been a steadfast supporter of YSU, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued generosity. This gift will help ensure that Kilcawley Center remains a vibrant, dynamic space for future generations of students to learn, grow and connect with one another.”

The DiBacco family’s ties to the Mahoning Valley are deep. Jim’s career began in 1972 when he started at Astro Shapes, just one week before graduating from Boardman High School. He worked his way up to executive vice president and part owner, retiring in 2014 after 43 years of service. Melissa, a Struthers High School graduate, worked at Brentwood Originals for 10 years before transitioning to focus on raising their family.

The DiBaccos’ commitment to education is also reflected in the academic success of their children. Their son, Brian, is a 2009 graduate of Miami University, while their daughter, Andria, earned her bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University and went on to receive a master’s in special education from YSU.

“We’re excited to see the vision for Kilcawley come to life,” said Jim DiBacco. “Kilcawley Center has always been a central part of the YSU experience, and this campaign will make it an even more vibrant and welcoming space for students to gather and thrive.”