Judd Hill Foundation commits $1 million to Reynolds Center for Health Sciences

Aug. 28, 2008 -- A $1 million commitment has been made to Arkansas State University by the Judd Hill Foundation for the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Health Sciences. The gift provides a restricted source of funds for repair and maintenance of the Center, which is under construction north of the Chickasaw Building on the ASU campus.



“We are extremely pleased and proud to receive this commitment from the Judd Hill Foundation,” said ASU Chancellor Dr. Robert Potts. “This financial commitment will go a long way toward helping an already solid foundation in the Reynolds Center. The Center, upon completion, will ensure growth in the University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions in preparing students to meet the demand for health professionals in our area.”

In May 2007, a $14.5 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation was given to the university for the purpose of constructing a three-story building to support the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Part of that gift agreement required Arkansas State University to commit to raise, within a restricted endowment, 20 percent of the Foundation grant amounting to $2,901,668. The Judd Hill Foundation gift is in partial support of meeting that match requirement.

The restricted fund is to be used exclusively for building maintenance and repair including the repair or replacement of specialized equipment within the building.

”Esther Chapin, having lived in a rural area, was keenly aware of the great need for rural health care,” said Mike Gibson, chair of the ASU Board of Trustees and Judd Hill executor. “Upon her death in 1991, Ms. Chapin gave her entire estate to the Judd Hill Foundation Trust whose purpose, among other things, was to promote health and to enhance the delivery of health care services to the residents of Arkansas. The gift today is a part of the growing legacy of Esther Chapin for the improvement of health care services in Arkansas.”

Upon completion of the Reynolds Center, the College of Nursing and Health Professions will double the available square footage for its programs, link three buildings to form an educational complex, and group college faculty and staff together on the same side of campus.

“Mike Gibson and the Judd Hill Foundation have supported the college of Nursing and Health Professions for over 10 years,” said Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the college. “We have received three previous gifts from the Judd Hill Foundation to support our efforts in distance education which was fabulous. This gift, however, is beyond imagination. His confidence in our ability to further impact this region makes me very proud. I truly appreciate his investment in our future.”

The additional 50,000 square foot facility was fueled by the tremendous growth of the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the need for space for new programs, equipment, research, increased enrollment and faculty, and areas for simulations and academic assignments.

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