Historic Support
Washburn University receives largest gift in campus history
From The Ichabod - Fall 2021
By Sarah Towle
In July, the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation announced a gift of $10.2 million from anonymous donors. The gift will be used for scholarships and several capital projects on the Washburn University campus in the coming years. This is the largest gift received in Washburn University’s history.
“The donors wanted to make a transformative gift to celebrate all Washburn University has accomplished and set the stage for continued improvements on campus and support for students,” said Marshall Meek, president, Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation. “Their generosity will provide monumental changes on our campus in the coming years and greatly support our students.”
One project benefiting from the gift is a new recital hall that will be constructed just north of White Concert Hall along 17th street. The project was approved by the Washburn University board of regents in October of 2020. The new recital hall will benefit students in Washburn University’s music department and local community organizations creating a smaller, more intimate space for musicians and audiences alike and state-of-the-art technology for recording and livestreams. The gift helped launch a fundraising campaign with a goal of $5.25 million for the recital hall.
(Recital hall rendering. Provided by Schwerdt Design Group)
That game-changing gift also helped cement a record-breaking fundraising year. Last fiscal year, nearly 5,000 alumni and donors came together in an incredible show of support for Washburn students giving $26 million to the University.
“It is generosity such as this that has been transformative in Washburn’s history, and we know this gift will be leave an indelible mark on our campus for generations to come,” said Jerry Farley, president, Washburn University. “We are thankful for the donors’ shared vision, extensive generosity and commitment to the future of this university.”