With unprecedented support from public and private funders - $12 million during the past three years – Donnelly College is breaking through barriers and gaining new ground in an ambitious quest to enhance the campus, expand programs and increase support for student success.
The generosity and confidence of funders is the impetus for the remarkable transformation that’s underway. Yesterday’s hopes are becoming today’s reality. Through gifts and grants, visions of renewal are turning into bricks and mortar, and dreams for the future are turning into new degree programs.
Among the largest gifts that have brought Donnelly to the half-way mark of a $25 million improvements campaign are four significant commitments: $4 million from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas; $1 million from George G. Breidenthal, Jr., ’69 & the Willard J. & Mary G. Breidenthal Foundation; $2 million from the In Thanksgiving to Blessed Seelos Fund; and $1.5 million from a Title V Department of Education grant.
“Donnelly College is very much at the heart of the church’s mission, and we’re so delighted that this college has been such an instrument of good for so many years in this community,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann, who is also a Donnelly Trustee. “Pope Francis said sometimes he thinks Jesus is knocking on our hearts and saying, ‘Let me out. Let me out into the community.’ That’s what I believe Donnelly does in its own beautiful and humble way. The Archdiocese is honored to provide a leadership gift to help the college realize the goals of its Transformations capital campaign. It will help so many more students not only grow in knowledge, but in faith too.”
Under President Steve LaNasa’s tenure, the Board of Trustees initiated a $25 million, multi-year, comprehensive campus development and renovation plan. College leadership is focused on continuing its recent growth throughout the presidential transition.
“Due in large part to Steve’s visionary leadership and passion for the College’s mission, we are carrying out an ambitious campus master plan that will strengthen Donnelly’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of current and future students,” said Dan Haake, Donnelly Board Chair. “The Board is committed to executing that vision.”
The first phase of the plan was completed earlier this year with the opening of a new $1.6 million Community Event Center, the first new construction at Donnelly in 50 years. Major gift commitments from several donors are fueling the plan’s second phase, which is expected to break ground within the next year. George Breidenthal Jr. and William H. Dunn, Jr. are co-chairs of the College’s capital campaign; Henry Bloch and William H. Dunn, Sr. are honorary co-chairs.
The next phase of development will focus on renovations to the main tower including construction of a new entrance, a campus chapel, a state-of-the-art academic resource center and library, and additional improvements that enhance the overall learning environment.
“As an institution with a 60-plus year legacy in the community, I think we’ve demonstrated through thick and thin that we are great stewards for investment,” said Dick Flanigan, Donnelly Chair-Elect and Senior Vice President at Cerner Corp. “Steve has given us a great legacy of stability and competency. We as a board and staff are prepared to execute on that legacy. We’ve identified our needs and the campaign is addressing them. The time to invest is now – and the need is great.”