The Kresge Foundation awards $850,000 challenge grant for Apperson
The effort to renovate the historic Apperson Hall received a big boost from The Kresge Foundation in April.
This spring, the foundation awarded an $850,000 challenge grant to renovation project that aims to create a state-of-the-art facility for the university’s civil and construction engineering programs. To meet the challenge, OSU must raise nearly $3.2 million in new gifts and pledges for the project by October 1, 2007.
“Our civil and construction engineering programs are among the nation’s best, and this project will help take them to the next level,” said OSU President Edward J. Ray. “This prestigious award from The Kresge Foundation represents a strong vote of confidence in the university and in our ability to meet the challenge opportunity.”
One of the most prominent foundations in the nation, The Kresge Foundation makes grants designed to help universities, hospitals and other nonprofit organizations build a broad base of support, primarily through new and increased contributions. The foundation’s challenge grants are extremely competitive since they are awarded on an international basis. This is OSU’s first award from The Kresge Foundation’s Capital Challenge Grants program since the early 1980s.
The $10 million effort to renovate Apperson Hall, part of the OSU College of Engineering’s drive to become one of the nation’s top engineering programs, was launched through a $3 million gift in 2004 from 1963 alumnus Lee Kearney and his wife, Connie. Since then, more than 500 alumni, businesses, and other friends have contributed to the project. The level of participation was key to securing the challenge grant, said Ron Adams, dean of the College of Engineering.
“The Kresge Foundation award underscores the importance of private support to OSU,” said Adams. “Without the many contributions from our alumni and friends, our request to The Kresge Foundation simply would not have been successful."
Help OSU meet the challenge grant: Make a gift online now (Note: The designation field will already be filled out for you.)
For other ways of giving, contact Sharon Magnuson at 503-553-3404 or Sharon.Magnuson@oregonstate.edu
Read more:
- Latest News: OSU breaks ground on Apperson Hall renovation
