Facing Forward Update
Summary:
Facing Forward – A Campaign for Newman University continues to move ever closer to its goal. Since the campaign was publicly announced on Feb. 6, the university has raised $1.56 million to upgrade existing facilities and create a new building for science, nursing, and health sciences programs, and provide for student scholarships and the university’s endowment.
Newman officials are making plans for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Bishop Gerber Science Center at 4:30 p.m. on June 10.
Funds needed for the renovations and new construction have reached almost 89 percent of the construction total.
Recent Gifts:
A $1 million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., has been issued to Newman University to support the building of the new science center and renovations portion of the campaign. Newman will receive the $1 million from the Mabee Foundation if the remaining amount necessary for the building and renovations is met by the deadline of Jan. 12, 2017.
Status:
* Includes Bishop Gerber Science Center, Eck Hall renovations, student scholarships, endowment and planned gifts
People are Saying:
“We are extremely grateful for the many gifts we have received since Feb. 6 that have brought us to this point in the campaign. We feel confident that the momentum created by these gifts and the Mabee Foundation challenge grant will continue, bringing us to a successful conclusion in our efforts to create state-of-the-art science and health science facilities at Newman University.”
– Newman University Vice President for University Advancement J.V. Johnston
“These upgraded and new facilities will benefit not only Newman students, but also the entire region as Newman graduates in the sciences and health sciences will be even better trained to meet the needs of employers and the overall community.”
‑ Newman University President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D.
Developments:
The university recently took the first physical steps in creating the new facilities by removing trees from the site where the new science center will stand. Renovations to Eck Hall will commence in May. Newman plans to have the building completed by August 2017 in time for the beginning of the fall semester.
The Campaign:
The Facing Forward campaign is designed to raise $30 million to build a new 51,400 square foot, two story science building, renovate the existing Eck Hall on the Newman campus, and provide for student scholarships and the university’s endowment. Newman University announced the launch of the public phase of the campaign at a Feb. 6 banquet.
The new science center will be named the Bishop Gerber Science Center in honor of the Most Rev. Eugene J. Gerber, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Wichita. Gerber has long been an advocate for Catholic higher education and a supporter of Newman University.
For more information on the Facing Forward campaign, visit www.newmanff.com, or contact J.V. Johnston at 316-942-4291, ext. 2163, or [email protected].
