Brown names Penner Field House in recognition of generous gift

As the parents of a current Brown senior and two recent graduates, the Penners said their children’s experiences on campus deepened their appreciation for the University and reinforced their belief in the importance of creating spaces where students can grow, push themselves, and form meaningful connections. 

“Brown has been an important part of our family’s story, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support a facility that strengthens student life,” Greg Penner said. “We hope that Penner Field House will be a place where students can challenge themselves, support one another, and build connections they’ll carry with them long after their time on campus.” 

The Penners said their support for the field house aligns not only with the values that have long guided their own philanthropy, but Brown’s mission as well. 

“The field house will be a place for learning, teamwork, and well-being — a true reflection of Brown’s spirit,” Carrie Walton Penner said. “It’s an honor to support a project that enhances student life and advances the University’s investment in community, wellness, and opportunity.” 

Brown President Christina H. Paxson noted that the Penners’ gift will benefit more than 6,000 Brown University students who participate in varsity, club, and recreational sports and help ensure that the field house meets the needs of the campus community for generations to come.

“Penner Field House represents a major step forward in our vision to enhance the student experience and ensure that Brown remains a place where students can pursue their potential to the fullest, both on and off the field,” Paxson said. “We’re deeply grateful for this generous gift from the Penner family, which will provide our student-athletes and members of our community with a world-class venue for training and recreation.” 

Expansion, upgrades fortify athletic excellence 

Construction of the building, which is funded entirely by donor support, began in October 2024, and crews hoisted the structure’s final steel beam into position during a topping-off ceremony in March 2025. The Penner Field House will be home to multiple spaces for use by the varsity and recreational athletics community, including Sorensen-Mencoff Field, a 1.5-acre turf field made possible with the generosity of Brown alumni and parents Joan Wernig Sorensen '72 LHD'19 hon., P'06 P'06 and E. Paul Sorensen '71 ScM'75 PhD'77 LHD'19 hon., P'06 P'06 and Samuel M. Mencoff '78, P'11, P'15 and Ann S. Mencoff P'11, P'15. 

Sorensen-Mencoff Field is lined for football, lacrosse, soccer, and rugby. Divider curtains will enable teams to split the field into halves or thirds, allowing for increased flexibility and accessibility. Within the facility, approximately 2,500 square feet will be reserved specifically for strength and conditioning work, including a dedicated space on the turf field. 

Open year-round, the field house is expected to alleviate scheduling conflicts for teams seeking indoor training space and expand access to recreational programs to the broader Brown community. During the 2024-25 academic year, 94% of undergraduate students engaged in athletics and recreation activities. Calhoun said she hopes that number will rise as the indoor turf facility expands capacity to meet a growing demand for recreational programming and fitness options for students, faculty, and staff eager to incorporate physical activity into their personal wellness plans.

In addition to the benefits for Brown community members, the facility will move activities previously held on Meister-Kavan Field to an enclosed building, mitigating noise impacts on local neighbors.

A legacy of supporting student success

Across their professional work and philanthropic commitments, including through the Penner Family Foundation, Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner have focused on strengthening communities and supporting programs that expand access to opportunity. Their long-standing belief in the connections between physical activity, belonging, and overall health has been an important component of their work and philosophy. 

Greg Penner is the CEO and co-owner of the Denver Broncos. He serves as chairman of the board of directors for Walmart, Inc., and is the founder and general partner at Madrone Capital Partners. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Corporation of Brown University. In his role with the Broncos, Penner oversees both football and business operations and serves on multiple National Football League committees, reflecting a broad leadership portfolio across sports, business, and philanthropy. His background spans investment, international finance, and strategic leadership roles at Walmart, following early career positions in venture capital and at Goldman Sachs.

Carrie Walton Penner is an education and youth mental-health advocate and owner of the Denver Broncos. She is deeply involved in franchise matters, including organizational culture initiatives and player wellness. She also serves on multiple NFL committees and chairs the Denver Broncos Foundation. Carrie is the founder of Fiore Ventures, where she invests in founder-led, early-stage companies, nonprofit organizations, and policy initiatives focused on mental-health access. She also serves on the board of directors of the Walton Family Foundation and chairs its education committee, guiding efforts to expand educational opportunity and student success.

Sergio Gonzalez, senior vice president for advancement at Brown, said the donors’ commitment underscores the essential role philanthropy plays in ensuring that Brown’s physical spaces effectively meet the evolving needs of the campus community. 

“We are deeply grateful for our donors’ investment in the Brown community and for the opportunities it will create for generations of students and athletes to come.”

This story was originally published in News from Brown.