Why We Give: Martin and Tricia Green

There may not be two more passionate Terps than Tricia and Martin Green. The two have been Maryland fans, season ticket holders, and donors, for over 30 years. Their recent Terrapin Club Legacy Program endowment gift highlights decades of support and Maryland pride and ensures their dedication to Maryland Athletics will continue with their daughter, Caitlin.

Tricia and Martin established the Green Family Endowed Scholarship for Intercollegiate Athletics with a six-figure estate gift and through the Terrapin Club Legacy Program, will preserve the spirit and strength of their generosity for years to come.

The Terrapin Club Legacy Program offers current donors a meaningful way to extend their dedicated support for Maryland Athletics to a family member. Through an estate pledge directed toward an endowed scholarship or program fund, a donor can designate a family member as a beneficiary to inherit 50% of their accumulated Terpoints, along with associated ticket and parking benefits, once the estate gift is realized.

The University of Maryland holds a special place in the hearts of Martin and Tricia Green and in their family’s story. Martin, a proud 1981 graduate, came to Maryland from Ireland along with his twin brother, John, becoming the first members of their family to go to college. They both earned scholarships to compete on the track & field program. Martin is still Maryland’s all-time record holder for the 10,000 meters. Tricia, a Lynchburg College alumnus, shares a strong connection to Maryland Athletics through her father, Richard Norair, a 1952 letterwinner in wrestling. 

Together, the Greens have become ardent champions of Maryland Athletics, not only through their family ties but also through their generous philanthropic leadership. As longtime supporters, they have made significant gifts to help build athletic facilities and provide scholarships for student-athletes, investing in the future of the program they care so deeply about and shaping the lives of countless student-athletes.

“It’s a great university,” Martin said. “We’re proud to be a part of the university, and we’re proud to be a part of the athletics process that gives opportunities to people. That’s our philosophy, and that’s the way we look at donating. Maryland Athletics gave our families such huge opportunities. Now, through our involvement, we are paying it forward and providing opportunities to current and future generations of student-athletes.”

The Greens were named Maryland Athletics’ Distinguished Citizens of the Year in 2022 in recognition of their ongoing commitment to provide resources to help Maryland student-athletes thrive academically and athletically. And Tricia was recognized as a “Fearless Woman of Maryland,” honoring the countless opportunities she’s provided for female student-athletes. Maryland’s Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse Complex showcases the Green Family Gate and the Tricia & Caitlin Green Hall of Champions, honoring some of the finest Terrapin field hockey and women’s lacrosse student-athletes that have come through College Park in the programs’ rich histories.

Tricia and Martin have seen waves of Maryland successes. They were in attendance when the women’s basketball team cut down the net in Boston after their 2006 National Championship win. They’ve attended countless bowl games — including a memorable 2002 Peach Bowl win — and celebrated the Terps’ 2002 men’s basketball championship just a few months later. 

“We've been there for all those big events,” Martin said. “We also have memories with all the people we’ve met over the years…the people who, like us, contribute to the university. We all look at Maryland as something that we want to continue supporting, and we want people to recognize what athletics does and how it changes lives for all types of women and men. To see student-athletes get educated and graduate from the University of Maryland is a big deal to us.”

Through many ups and downs, the Greens have stayed loyal to Maryland, their support for their school and its student-athletes unwavering. Through thick and thin, the two embody everything it takes to be true Terps, displaying their relentless Maryland pride. 

Martin and Tricia are extremely proud that their daughter, Caitlin, a High Point University graduate, will carry on the family’s Maryland Athletics legacy, honoring the values of loyalty and support that define the Green family.

Ensuring that the passion, pride, and tradition of Maryland Athletics are passed down to future generations is essential to preserving the spirit and strength of our Terrapin family for years to come. To find out more about the Terrapin Club Legacy Program, contact the Terrapin Club at tclub@umd.edu or 301-314-7020.