The MabeeFoundation of Tulsa, Okla.,has given Harding University a $1.7 million challenge grant toward the construction of an $8.5 million facility to housethe Carr College of Nursing and the Communication Science and DisordersDepartment.
The new buildingwill be constructed on the south side of the Harding campus adjacent to the Farrar HealthSciences Center.Construction is expected to begin this summer, and the facility is expected toopen in time for the 2013 fall semester.
To qualify forconsideration of a challenge grant, Harding administrators had to certify theyhad already raised $3.4 million or 40 percent of the cost of the project.Harding has raised $3.6 million.
To meet the finalprovision of the challenge grant, Harding must raise the remainder of the $6.8million to complete the project by March 1, 2013.
“We are veryexcited about meeting this challenge grant opportunity from the MabeeFoundation,” said President David Burks. “This is certainly a pace-setting gifton this very important project for the Harding community. The Mabee gift willensure the project will be completed next year.”
The MabeeFoundation has previously provided gifts and grants to Harding totaling morethan $10.3 million. The two most recent gifts were a $1.1 million gift for theconstruction of the Farrar Health SciencesCenter in 2008 and a $1 million gifttoward the construction of the ThorntonEducation Centerin 2005.
The largest giftmade by the Foundation came in 1994 with a $2 million grant toward theconstruction of the McInteer Bible and World MissionsCenter.
