Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge has received a $4 million grant from the Mabee Foundation, the private Christian university announced Tuesday.
It's the university’s largest donation to date.
The grant will be used to begin funding for an $8 million wellness center on the WBU campus and will secure naming rights, designating the center as the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation Wellness Center.
The wellness center will provide a state-of-the-art facility for physical fitness, mental health and community engagement, the university said in a news release. Plans include two basketball courts, weight and aerobic exercise equipment, exercise rooms, locker rooms, a video gaming room, a community/gathering area and a large, screened porch.
An opening date has yet to be announced.
WBU operates as an independent, nonprofit, church-related institution.
The Mabee Foundation's mission is to support brick-and-mortar nonprofit projects across the Midwest. It has awarded over $1.5 billion in grants, some of which has supported other projects at WBU, including the Southerland-Mabee Center, Mabee Student Center, Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria, Manley Chapel, Startup Chapel, and Cash and Butler Halls.
