The money donated by Derek Wolfe and Jamin Pastore, who both played football at Beaver Local, will be used to replace the grass football field with artificial turf, which will cost about $600,000. The rest will go toward the eventual construction of a multi-use athletic training facility that will require a financial commitment from the community to complete.

“It’s an exciting day for our students, staff and all of Beaver Local, and we appreciate them not forgetting where they came from and coming back to do this,” said Superintendent Eric Lowe.

Wolfe, who graduated from Beaver Local in 2008, recently completed his eighth season with the Denver Broncos, where he was a starting defensive end on the 2015 team that won the Super Bowl.

A 2001 Beaver Local graduate, Pastore was named to the All-Ohio high school football first team and awarded a scholarship to Duke University. He is president and CEO of JP Capital Management, a private equity firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of manfacturing, health care, commodity brokerage and other types of distribution and service companies.

Derek Wolfe talks with middle school students gathered around him in the middle school gym. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Their friendship began when Wolfe was 14 and attended a Beaver Local football camp. Pastore, still in college at the time, was a volunteer at the camp and began working with Wolfe on his running technique. The friendship grew from there.

“He’s the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever had, and he’s a mentor as well. I’m glad we’re able to pay it forward,” Wolfe said.

After the Broncos won Super Bowl 50, Pastore said he and Wolfe began kicking around the idea of doing something to pay back Beaver Local for helping give them their start in life. “We’re just excited to be able to do this … It all started here. It really did,” he said.

They approached school officials, and from those discussions decided to focus on helping with the athletic facilities, especially the football field.

“When you have a high school like this, a beautiful place like this, you need (athletic) facilities to match,” Wolfe said, referring to the new all-school complex that opened in 2015. The only part that is not new is the football field and accompanying buildings across the road.

Pastore and Wolfe pose for a football with members of the football and soccer teams. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

The plan is to begin installing the new turf field this spring and have it in place for the upcoming football season. Pastore said it is the cheaper of the two projects and also addresses what they believe is the most immediate need.

“I remember my sophomore year I blew my knee out on a slip, so I know how bad the field was here,” he said,

The remaining $400,000 will be applied to the new multi-use training facility that will include a weight room, a room for trainers, locker rooms, a room for coaches to review film, and a mini-indoor turf field “that will not only benefit football players but our soccer program and our baseball and softball teams when they can’t get on the field” to practice, Lowe said.

“We want to have a place that will be the envy of everyone,” Wolfe said. “It’s going to be expensive but it’s going to be worth it” if it helps more Beaver Local athletes secure college scholarships.

To help pay for the training facility, Lowe has set a $1 million fundraising goal and they have already begun working on a plan and forming a committee to begin seeking contributions from the Beaver Local community.

Dalton DeLauder holds up a poster asking for Wolfe’s help. The deal is if Wolfe took a photograph with him DeLauder would get ice cream for dinner. Dalton was all smiles thinking about his ice cream treat after meeting with Wolfe. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

“We will need to do some fundraising to finish this endeavor and it will likely be done in stages, but without their contribution it wouldn’t be possible,” he said.

Wolfe and Pastore also took a moment to thank school Treasurer Stacy Williams, who took the lead in working with them in making this happen. In return, she thanked them.

“We could not do this without you guys,” Williams said.

Before and after the news conference announcing the donation, Wolfe visited students in classrooms and assemblies to speak with them and sign autographs. Wolfe told the older students about how he was able to overcome a tough childhood and still achieve success, but he said talent is not enough unless it is accompanied by hard work and a commitment to excellence.

While school board President Jerry Barnett is obviously pleased with the $1 million donation, he is equally impressed by the message it sends to students.

Jamin Pastore and Derek Wolfe also made time to meet with area media and explain their plans for the football stadium turf field and training complex. Pastore and Wolfe each donated half a million dollars to get the project underway. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

“It sets a nice example for our young people: Don’t forget where you come from, and give back. I just feel these kids are going to be so blessed in the future because of their generosity,” he said.

Wolfe joked he would like for the complex to be named after him, with the weight room called the Wolfe’s Den. “That’s all I really need,” he said.

Some students spent a lot of time creating posters of their local hero which he happily signed for them. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Elementary students chant “Derek, Derek” as he makes his way down the hallway to visit with them personally. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Some students spent a lot of time creating posters of their local hero which he happily signed for them. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe was all smiles as he is surrounded by students in one of the elementary pods. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe and Jamin Pastore made one last stop for the day at their old stomping grounds and reminisced about days gone by on the grass field. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe and Jamin Pastore made one last stop for the day at their old stomping grounds and reminisced about days gone by on the grass field. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Even in the hallways between large groups of students. Wolfe took the time to say hi to any student he ran across and sign their shirts and mementoes. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Samantha Williams, Gia Hall and Dalton DeLauder gather around Derek Wolfe for a photo. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe talks with middle school students gathered around him in the middle school gym. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe signs one of the football trading cards of himself that was handed to him today. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Wolfe became the apple of many a students eye after meeting with them one on one. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

It was a hug and friendly banter between Beaver Local coach Mark Cashdollar. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe addresses students in the both the middle school and high school gymnasiums, telling them that whatever they desire to do they can accomplish providing they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe addresses students in the both the middle school and high school gymnasiums, telling them that whatever they desire to do they can accomplish providing they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe addresses students in the both the middle school and high school gymnasiums, telling them that whatever they desire to do they can accomplish providing they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe addresses students in the both the middle school and high school gymnasiums, telling them that whatever they desire to do they can accomplish providing they are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Wolfe poses with the students from one of the many elementary classes in their pod. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe signs a yearbook. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Wolfe meets with Beaver Local principal Jim Riccardo and his family members signing jerseys and mementoes. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Wolfe meets with Beaver Local principal Jim Riccardo and his family members signing jerseys and mementoes. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Signing one of hundreds of Wolfe Denver Bronco shirts. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe talks with former teacher and his former high football coach, Rich Wright, whom he credits along with Jamin Pastore with teaching him the skills that led to his NFL career with the Denver Broncos. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

This young lad also had the same poster and was likely related to Dalton Delauder and likewise will be enjoying ice cream for dinner. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

This young lad also had the same poster and was likely related to Dalton Delauder and likewise will be enjoying ice cream for dinner. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Dalton DeLauder holds up a poster asking for Wolfe’s help. The deal is if Wolfe took a photograph with him DeLauder would get ice cream for dinner. Dalton was all smiles thinking about his ice cream treat after meeting with Wolfe. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Dalton DeLauder holds up a poster asking for Wolfe’s help. The deal is if Wolfe took a photograph with him DeLauder would get ice cream for dinner. Dalton was all smiles thinking about his ice cream treat after meeting with Wolfe. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe signed shirts, footballs, his football trading card and yearbooks along with hundreds of drawings and pieces of paper that the students handed him. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Jamin Pastore (left) and Derek Wolfe are joined by Beaver Local treasurer Stacy Williams with a presentation check after they donated $1 million to the school. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Derek Wolfe (left), known for his strength and energy, spent it on all of the 1,816 students at Beaver Local Tuesday during Derek Wolfe, Jamin Pastore Day. Wolfe and Pastore (right) met with all the students and teachers, talking and signing autographs from from 11 in the morning until the dismissal bell rang in the afternoon. Wolfe and Pastore were still meeting with kids at the old ROTC building after visiting the football field. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Wolfe and Pastore were joined by Beaver Local Superintendent Eric Lowe and District Treasurer Stacy Williams. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Jamin Pastore and Derek Wolfe also made time to meet with area media and explain their plans for the football stadium turf field and training complex. Pastore and Wolfe each donated half a million dollars to get the project underway. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Many kids gave Wolfe thank you notes and some gave him big hugs as they posed for a photo or two. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

Seven-year-old Holly McCoy was one of hundreds of kids Derek Wolfe took the time to talk with and sign whatever the kids desired. Some kids were shy and quiet while others shouted Derek’s name and smiled from ear to ear. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)