John Brown University has been awarded a $1.5 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation of Tulsa to support construction and fundraising projects on campus, the private Siloam Springs school announced Thursday.
The funds will support the construction of the new JBU Health Education Building and nursing endowment, the renovation of the Walton Lifetime Health Complex and the JBU Scholarship Fund, the school said. The fundraising projects are part of JBU’s $125 million Campaign for the Next Century scheduled to be completed on the university’s centennial in 2019. To date, JBU has received nearly $67 million in gifts and pledges toward the campaign goal.
Last month, the university broke ground on the $6 million health education building.
"The Mabee Foundation has been a friend and partner of excellence in Christian higher education at JBU for decades," said Chip Pollard, JBU president, in a news release. "We are deeply grateful for this challenge grant, which will inspire others to participate in our mission to empower students to honor God and serve others."
In order for JBU to receive the challenge grant, the university must raise the remaining funds needed to complete the projects by the end of the fiscal year. So far, JBU has received:
- $7.8 million of the $12 million goal for the nursing project;
- $2.2 million of the $5 million goal for the Walton Lifetime Health Complex renovation.
Additionally, the challenge grant requires $500,000 of funding for the JBU Scholarship Fund, the university said.
"The Mabee challenge grant will help energize our generous donors to complete the funding of these important projects," said Jim Krall, vice president for advancement at JBU. "We are thankful for the foundation's role in the success of the Campaign for the Next Century to date."
