Profound generosity of Prefontaines benefits both campus and students

As the founder and CEO of Family Leisure Inc. and an entrepreneur who started home, property and advertising businesses, Andy Prefontaine (Class of 1971) has achieved a great deal of success since his time as an MSU Eagle. Though his journey has taken him across the country, and even the world, he’s never strayed far from his MSU home. He and his wife, Debbie, have been avid supporters of MSU for years, donating resources and volunteering their time to encourage other alumni to give back and support the University.

In 2018, the Prefontaines continued their generous support to ensure that success is within reach for future generations of students. They contributed $750,000 to create the Andy and Debbie Prefontaine Scholarship Endowment. The proceeds from the endowment will provide scholarships to assist in recruiting and retaining current and future Eagles.

“Some students would not even be able to attend MSU without a scholarship, and that’s why it’s important,” Andy said.

“I’ve been very fortunate and if life gives you good fortune, you really should pay it back. It should be a part of your life.”

As a student, Andy was a member of the MSU ROTC program’s first commissioned graduating class and served as the last president of the Aquila Club before the organization became the fraternal organization Pi Kappa Alpha. After graduating, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In addition to owning nine Family Leisure retail stores across the south and midwest, he is also the founder and CEO of Sierra Advertising and owner of Pendelton Pike Properties, Watson’s Properties and Watson of Minnesota Properties.

His desire to pay it forward led him to work with a Sisters of Charity orphanage in Vietnam that only took in blind and visually impaired children. He would regularly donate money and gifts to the orphanage and children. His business success, charitable giving and University support led to Prefontaine becoming a 2016 MSU Alumni Hall of

In honor of their significant charitable commitment, two spaces inside the Adron Doran University Center (ADUC) are adorned with their name: the Prefontaine Tower and the Prefontaine Pub.

The Prefontaines’ generosity didn’t stop at this special endowment, though. After the commitment to provide financial support to students in need, they also wanted to support another area they were especially fond of – athletics. An avid sports fan, Andy and his family also donated an additional $750,000 to support renovations and improvements to a variety of MSU’s athletics facilities, including the baseball stadium, indoor practice facility, basketball court and more.

“My first priority was to our students – through the scholarship endowment, we’re fulfilling a need there. But my next priority was a personal passion – athletics. ” said Andy.

This additional commitment came with a surprise recognition – the indoor turfed practice facility was named the Prefontaine Field House.

The Prefontaines have cemented their legacy from one end of campus to the other – but something tells us they won’t stop there. No matter where life’s journey takes him next, Andy is firm in his commitment to his beloved alma mater.