Union University has announced a $2 million gift from Memphis businessman Roy White as part of the “Building a Future” campaign. With White’s recent commitment, Union has reported more than $20 million in gifts and pledges toward the $35 million campaign goal, which was announced last fall. The White gift is the third largest in Union’s history and will benefit the construction of a science building as part of the new West Campus complex. Site preparation is now underway on the West Campus, with the first building to begin construction in June. White, a member of Union’s Board of Trustees, is the owner of Third Party Solutions, a company that serves as a liaison between pharmacies and insurance companies, allowing patients to receive their prescriptions without delay. “Roy White is a model of a successful Christian business leader as he demonstrates both entrepreneurial genius and a deep commitment to the cause of Christ,” says Union President David S. Dockery. “We are fortunate to have him on our Board, and are tremendously grateful for his love of Union as evidenced by this generous gift.”
Union’s “Building a Future” campaign seeks to raise $35 million for new facilities, expanded endowment and other needs over the next five years. The campaign is the largest ever among colleges and universities in the West Tennessee region outside of Memphis. At a November dinner for Union friends and supporters, Dockery announced that during the year-long preparatory phase, the campaign generated more than $15 million in gifts and pledges toward the $35 million goal. At the April 9 Trustee meeting, Dockery announced that more than $5 million in additional gifts and pledges has been received since that time, raising the campaign total to more than $20 million. “While we are delighted to announce this solid foundation of gifts — which include three of the largest gifts ever given to Union University — we recognize that the next five years will be a challenge as we seek to reach new levels of achievement for Union,” Dockery said. Dockery also announced three Union supporters who will chair the campaign: James Ayers, a Parsons, Tenn., businessman and Union Trustee; Benny Fesmire, a Jackson business leader and long-time Union supporter; and White, a Union Trustee. The campaign goal is divided into three categories: capital needs ($17.5 million); endowment ($5.5 million); and annual support ($12 million). The endowment goal includes both scholarships and a series of endowed faculty chairs. The annual support goal will fund ongoing operational needs of the university during the campaign.
The capital needs goal includes support for the first phase of the university’s campus master plan, which includes a new classroom building in the projected arts complex, a new athletic/convocation center, a new sciences classroom building, new athletic fields, and a series of campus improvements relating to the Master Plan. Union has received the four largest gift commitments in its history during the past year. The University’s top four gift commitments are:
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The new science building is part of
the University’s Campus Master Plan,
which was announced in December 1997.
The first phase
of the plan has been implemented with
the construction of a new varsity soccer
field and a baseball/softball field complex.
The first five-year
phase will also include
construction of Jennings Hall (an academic
building to house the departments
of Christian Studies, Communication Arts
and Music) and the science building made
possible through White’s gift.
