PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Portland Diamond Project has annouced its charter investors.
The 12 families named are funding the initiative to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. The group said these investors have funded operations including the design of the proposed ballpark.
Many of the investors have Portland and Oregon connections, including former Oregon college athletes, philanthrapists and entrepreneurs.
The investors are:
• Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
• Recording artist and entrepreneur Ciara
• Former MLB player Darwin Barney, father David P. Barney and brother David M. Barney
• Retired business owner and philanthropist Samantha Richardson
• Former CEO of Platt Electric Harvey Platt and wife Sandy
• Opus Agency co-founder and restauranteur Grant Hammersley
• Portland Gear founder and CEO Marcus Harvey
• Kamp Grizzly founder Dan Portrait and wife Sheena
• Avamere Group founder and CEO Rick Dillon
• DWFritz Automation CEO Mike Fritz
• Nike Inc. Vice President of Global Footwear Product Creation Mark Allen and wife Peg
• Jevo founder and entrepreneur Tyler Williams
• Real estate broker Kelsey Williams
Their investments helped launch the Portland Diamond Clubhouse store, which sells merchandise and has already raised $40,000 for a non-profit that helps underserved youth in Oregon and SW Washington called Friends of Baseball.
The Portland Diamond Project announced in November 2018 that it plans to develope the Port of Portland’s 45-acre Terminal 2 property for its ballpark.
“These individuals’ early involvement and belief in PDP stem from personal passion for both the game of baseball and their community,” Portland Diamond Project founder and CEO Craig Cheek said in a press release. “Very early on, they recognized the unique opportunity we have to leave a legacy for the City of Portland that extends far beyond the foul lines.”