Davenport University Announces $25 Million Campaign

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Davenport University announced the public launch of its $25 million campaign to raise funds for a new facility to house the University's Donald W. Maine College of Business, for continued development of the College of Urban Education, and for expansion of the University's scholarship endowment to provide access for an increased number of deserving students.  More than half of the total – $12.7 million – already has been raised during the silent phase of the campaign.

"Davenport's Investing in the Vision Campaign and its focus on inspiring minds and igniting careers is exciting," stated Rich DeVos, Honorary Campaign Chair and Co-Founder of Amway. "This campaign is a vital component of Davenport's plan to transform education and foster entrepreneurship – two areas close to my heart – while tapping into more of Michigan's potential by expanding access to education."

Necessitated by growing enrollment at the W.A. Lettinga Campus, the new Donald W. Maine College of Business facility will also feature an Entrepreneurship Center. The three-story, 60,000-square-foot facility will allow for continued growth of academic programs while providing highly flexible space to support up to three companies as part of the Entrepreneurship Center's business accelerator program, which will guide and advise entrepreneurs ready to build and expand their successful, high-value, high-growth companies and create more jobs. The new facility represents $15.5 million of the overall goal.

The new facility, like the College of Business, will be named for Donald W. Maine, who served as Chancellor and President of Davenport between 1977 and 2000. "This University would not be what it is today without the contributions of Don Maine," said Dr. Rick Pappas, President of Davenport University. "From offering bachelor's and graduate degrees to our leadership in online degrees to the creation of one university out of three separate colleges, Don Maine was instrumental in shaping the Davenport we know today."

The second pillar of the campaign is for Davenport's College of Urban Education, which is transforming the way new and existing teachers and education leaders are being prepared to serve in Michigan's urban school districts. Continued development of this new college represents $5.5 million of the total goal. "Teaching and leading schools in an urban environment requires special talent, with enhanced skills, training and relationship building, to ensure all children achieve their potential," said Teresa Weatherall Neal, M.Ed., Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools. "This new College of Urban Education is exactly the type of talent development that is needed."

Each year, Davenport distributes more than $20 million in scholarships and other types of financial aid to deserving students. Even though Davenport's tuition is among the lowest of all private universities in Michigan – and lower than a few public universities – more than 90 percent of DU students receive some type of financial assistance. Endowed scholarships represent the third pillar of the Investing in the Vision Campaign, with a goal of $4 million.

"Endowed scholarships represent a true investment in Davenport's vision – one student at a time," said Peg Luy, Executive Vice President for Alumni and Development at Davenport. "Gifts to our endowment transform the lives of students and have an impact on their current and future families. There are few investments that have a greater impact than those made in the education of students who could not otherwise attend college."

Co-Chairs of the Investing in the Vision Campaign are Tracy Graham, Chairman of Davenport's Board of Trustees and Managing Principal at Graham-Allen Partners LLC, Wilbur A. Lettinga, Member and Past Chairman of Davenport's Board of Trustees, Former President of Lettinga & Associates and CEO of Kentland Corporation, and Donald W. Maine, Chancellor Emeritus of Davenport University.

To see renderings of the Donald W. Maine College of Business new facility please visit the Davenport University flickr. Those interested in supporting the Investing in the Vision Campaign can visit www.davenport.edu/invest for more information.

About Davenport University
Founded in 1866, Davenport is a private, non-profit university serving nearly 9,000 students at campuses across Michigan and online. With tuition among the lowest of all private universities in the state, Davenport provides high academic quality, small class sizes, conveniently located campuses, faculty with real-world experience and more than 50 dynamic undergraduate and graduate programs addressing in-demand careers in business, technology, health professions and urban education. 

SOURCE Davenport University