JBU Nears $5M Funding Goal for Recreation Center Renovation
by March 10, 2016 3:05 pm 151 views
John Brown University of Siloam Springs announced on Thursday it has raised more than $4 million of the $5 million needed to complete renovation of the school’s recreation center, the Walton Lifetime Health Complex.
The private, Christian university credits the Simmons family as a lead donor, giving an undisclosed amount.
“We are pleased to be able to partner with JBU in renovating the Walton Lifetime Health Complex,” Mark Simmons, chairman of Siloam Springs poultry firm Simmons Foods, said in a press release from the university. “The WLHC has been a great place for our community and JBU’s students to stay fit and healthy. The renovation will ensure the facility is top-notch for years to come.”
More than 2,600 students, employees and community members regularly use the WLHC, according to the release.
The renovation is scheduled for completion in 2017. Plans include a new community entrance, expanded fitness areas, an expansion of the HVAC system, new pool mechanical systems and decking and new locker rooms.
“The Simmons family have been a critical champion of healthy communities in Northwest Arkansas, and we are deeply thankful not only for their financial support, but also for their leadership in improving the quality of life in our community,” Chip Pollard, JBU president, said in the release. “Mark Simmons’ wisdom has been invaluable to us in his decades-long service as a JBU trustee.”
The WLHC renovation project is part of JBU’s $125 million Campaign for the Next Century, which is scheduled for completion in 2019 during the university’s centennial. The campaign has five priorities: endowment and annual scholarships ($35 million), estate gifts for scholarships and program endowment ($25 million), endowment for academic excellence ($10 million), new and renovated facilities ($30 million), and program support ($25 million), according to the press release.