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Eleven cheerleaders hold signs that read $18,774,387 on stage at gift announcement.

CHEERS: The 妻友社区 Cheer Squad shares the amount of the Windgate gift.

Arts and Sciences | Bell Tower | Health Education and Human SciencesOctober 20, 2022

Historic Gift by Windgate to Transform University and River Valley

In September, speaking about the $18.7 million gift from the Windgate Foundation, Chancellor Terisa Riley said, 鈥淚n some ways, they can dream even bigger than we do, and to dream big dreams to improve our community together is special.鈥�

The transformative gift is the largest single gift in university history. It is earmarked to expand the acclaimed nursing and art education programs. 

The gift addresses critical needs in the Arkansas River Valley, dramatically increasing nursing graduates and cultivating an immersive arts experience for students and the public through the expansion of Windgate Art and Design and Art Department鈥檚 offerings.

鈥淭he Windgate Foundation cares deeply about Fort Smith,鈥� said Blake Rickman, Executive Director of the 妻友社区 Foundation and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement. 鈥淭his is their hometown, and they understand the unique relationship between 妻友社区 and the community. We aren鈥檛 just a university in Fort Smith; we are Fort Smith鈥檚 university, and we couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for their support.鈥� 

鈥淭his foundation has walked hand-in-hand with us for so many years,鈥� Riley said. 鈥淚 take a lot of pride in their trust in us as good stewards of their investments.鈥� 

Before this gift, the Windgate Foundation awarded more than $25 million to 妻友社区 in support of the Windgate Art and Design building and endowment, visual arts and design programming, and a comprehensive scholarship endowment for high-need students. 

鈥淭hrough their generous gift, the members of the Windgate Foundation have entrusted to us the ability to carry out a large part of their legacy,鈥� Riley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor, and I am so impressed by how quickly they have used their philanthropy to ensure that their investments empower us to adapt to the community鈥檚 changing needs.鈥� 

鈥淲hen priorities can adjust in real-time, you know the people behind the scenes are genuine servants of their community,鈥� echoed Rickman.

Over the past three years, he said, the university and the Windgate Foundation pivoted from discussing a single gift to improve fine art facilities at 妻友社区 to creating the multi-tiered plan to holistically advance the health and wellness of the River Valley.

 

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  • College of Health Education and Human Sciences
  • On Campus
  • Art and Design