As part of the 10-year agreement, People’s United Bank will donate $5 million to Quinnipiac to support two major academic centers in the School of Business — the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Center for Women and Business. In addition, Quinnipiac’s Sports Center will be renamed the People’s United Center, effective July 1.

Quinnipiac University will match the $5 million donation and move its university-wide banking to People’s United Bank for the 10-year term coinciding with the agreement.

“We are pleased to partner with Quinnipiac, a well-respected university that shares our same commitment to the education and success of our next generation of leaders,” said Jack Barnes, CEO of People’s United Bank. “What’s great about this partnership is that it provides the opportunity to support the high-caliber educational programs offered by Quinnipiac’s School of Business as well as the university’s nationally recognized athletics program and the thousands of fans it draws each year.”

Quinnipiac President John L. Lahey said, “This sponsorship with People’s United Bank will benefit the entire university community as well as the tens of thousands of fans who attend our Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey and basketball games each year. In addition, People’s United Bank’s support of two of our most prominent centers in the School of Business will improve the educational opportunities for our current students as well as the alumni and community members who take part in the many high-quality programs each center offers.”

The People’s United Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship strives to support the entrepreneurial spirit at Quinnipiac. Using its vast resources and programs for students, faculty and alumni, the center works to turn ideas into viable business solutions. The center taps into the expertise of successful business professionals, advanced research capabilities and its access to business capital. It also provides advisory services and workshops in legal, finance, research, marketing, design, business plan development and startup mentoring.

The People’s United Center for Women and Business serves women focused on achieving their professional goals. Through skill-building workshops, motivational events and networking opportunities, the center provides a place where women can share their expertise and experiences with each other. The nationally acclaimed leaders the center has hosted include: Emilie Aries, founder and CEO of Bossed Up; and Cheryl L. Jones, chief mindfulness officer at The Mindful Path, LLC.

The People’s United Center, located at 305 Sherman Avenue in Hamden, has been home to Quinnipiac’s Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey and basketball teams since 2007. The ice hockey teams are members of ECAC Hockey while the men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

“Partnering with Quinnipiac was a natural fit for People’s United Bank,” said Jeff Tengel, President of People’s United. “We’re a local institution. And like Quinnipiac, our reach extends throughout the Northeast. We work here. We invest in businesses and institutions here. I believe that it’s our shared focus around small business entrepreneurship, career development and the advancement of women in business, that will make this relationship really take off. We look forward to sharing our collective knowledge with the many students who will go on to be successful employees, entrepreneurs and positively contribute to our local communities.”