April 5, 2013 was definitely a date to celebrate at Donnelly. Seven months and three blizzards had passed since Donnelly friends and supporters had last gathered on the north side of campus for the ground breaking of an exciting new construction project. The wait was finally over. The time had come to cross the threshold of the new Community Event Center, the first new building on campus in 50 years.
Needless to say, it was a great day for a grand opening!
“The College has been working toward this day for several years,” said President Steve LaNasa. “It’s an outward sign of our commitment to the community. Donnelly is firmly rooted in the urban core.”
A series of speakers including Commissioner Brian McKiernan,’76, and campaign chairs Henry Bloch, George Breidenthal, ’69, and William Dunn, Jr., offered remarks on the importance of education in today’s world and the vital role the College plays in helping students earn degrees and reach new goals. Before the ceremonial red ribbon fluttered to the ground, Archbishop Naumann offered a blessing and recognized Donnelly as “an instrument of good for so many” and an institution that’s “at the heart of the Church’s mission.”
The celebration continued as guests streamed into the new 3,196 square-foot facility that serves as a venue for campus and community meetings as well as special events.