Building on a Strong Foundation
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Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Huntington University Foundation
has proven to be an encouraging experience with much of the
encouragement coming unexpectedly from a commissioned history of the
Foundation. This impressive history documents many events of dedicated
leadership, community collaboration, innovation, perseverance and
accomplishments that were sustained in good times and bad.
This
history also provides interesting insight into why many buildings and
features of Huntington University bear the names they do. For example,
the Foundation was started by Huntington College professor, Fred Loew,
and Huntington businessman, Jacob Brenn. After reading about their
historic leadership and commitment, it is clear why one of the most used
academic facilities on the campus today is Loew-Brenn Hall.
Brenn,
the Foundation's first president, led the Foundation for 26 years from
1938 1964. Over these nearly three decades our nation and community
experienced war, recessionary periods and much change.
Yet,
despite these tumultuous times the Foundation and community supported
initiatives like the construction of Loew-Alumni Library (1949), an
innovative fund raiser called "The College Acre of Corn" (1951), the
launch of the Foundation "Breakfast Hour" series hosted at the Hotel
LaFontaine (1958), and the fundraising of more than $236,000 for
construction of the Jacob L. Brenn Science Hall (1963).
With
these accomplishments as the example, the Foundation and the community
have continued to collaborate to support a growing college.
Some
of the key projects over those next 50 years included creating Lake
Sno-Tip (1966) named for Foundation board members Gene Snowden and F.L.
Tipmore; receiving the Robert E. Wilson art collection and subsequent
establishment of the Robert E. Wilson Gallery (1986) within the Merilatt
Centre for the Arts; and influencing millions of dollars of
contributions to university facility expansions, permanent endowments
and grants for Huntington County students to attend the university.
Certainly,
the inspirational history challenges the Foundation and community to be
dedicated and resourceful in helping make the future better than the
past.
Throughout the remainder of 2013, the Foundation is
encouraged and motivated to do just that. We plan to do so by continuing
the celebration of the 75th anniversary, thanking our loyal supporters
and community, welcoming the 13th president of Huntington University,
and seeking to raise at least $75,000 as an appropriate and symbolic way
to salute those who have gone before and to benefit those yet to come.
As history challenges us, it is the Foundation's 75th anniversary goal
to continue "Building on a Strong Foundation."
Help us in supporting our mission.