The largest grants St. Ambrose ever received from two of the area's major charitable funding agencies have fueled momentum for the Building Our Future campaign.
Commitments of $250,000 from the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) and $200,000 from the Regional Development Authority (RDA) pushed the campaign past the $14.5 million mark by mid-September.
While St. Ambrose has received grants from both funders in the past, the gifts for the Building Our Future campaign are by far the largest commitment each agency has made to the university since they were established 25 years ago.
Jim Stangle '82, vice president for advancement, said the SCRA and RDA grants underline the many ways St. Ambrose makes Davenport and the greater Quad Cities a better place to live.
"Those were significant investments in both cases," Stangle said of funding that will assist construction of the new Wellness and Recreation Center. "They see the value St. Ambrose brings to the community. A stronger St. Ambrose definitely means a stronger Quad Cities."
The multi-year funding commitments from the SCRA and the RDA honored the university's willingness to use the new facility for the benefit of the greater Quad Cities community.
Possible ways include:
> An expanded menu of athletic camps for students in grades K-12
> Hosting youth sports events and tournaments during summers and over breaks in the academic schedule
> Access to aerobic exercise equipment for cardiac rehabilitation patients
> Scheduled walk times on the new indoor track for area seniors
"It is always a privilege to welcome members of the general public and especially their children to campus-and they needn't be alumni nor future students," said Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, president of the university.
"Friends from the Quad Cities help make this a stronger institution in many ways, including through support for this current campaign," Sr. Joan added. "For those and other reasons, we think it is important that St. Ambrose be of the Quad Cities as well as in it. These two very important grants help to prove and improve our commitment to the community."
Progress continues toward the campaign's target funding goal of $18.5 million, Stangle said.
"We are really pleased with the response we've had since taking this campaign public in April," he said.
Meanwhile, the Wellness and Recreation Center remains on schedule to open in the fall of 2017, said Mike Poster '88, vice president for finance.
Work on the building adjacent to the PE Center will continue throughout the 2016-17 academic year. The building should be completely enclosed by December, Poster said. Russell Construction then will begin building the interior.
Classes and offices previously housed in the PE Center have been temporarily relocated, but a smaller weight training facility is open and athletics events will continue to be held in the arena.
A ramp on the eastern side of the PE Center will allow access to the training facilities and entry to the arena will be available through an existing door on the northeast corner of the building. "There will be minor inconveniences, but the games will go on," Poster said.
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