ACES Advancement The Nature of Giving

Alumni Philip and Juanita Francis have pledged $1.2 million for the renovation of various facilities in Bevier Hall and the establishment of the Philip L. and Juanita Fitzer Francis Endowed Fellowship in Health and Wellness.

Thomas C. Ainsworth of Mason City has pledged a gift in support of the Department of Crop Sciences that will be used to help fund a faculty position to be known as the Ainsworth Professorship in Crop Sciences. The fund will also support the Ainsworth Family Endowment in Crop Sciences Fellowship, whose recipients are expected to be directed in their graduate work by the holder of the professorship.

Doris and Jay Christopher and a host of other dignitaries were part of a September 14, 2006, ribbon cutting ceremony dedicating the new Doris Kelley Christopher Hall, made possible by a $10 million gift from the family. Located at Lincoln Avenue and Nevada Street, the building is home to The Pampered Chef Family Resiliency Program, the Family Resiliency Center, and the Department of Human and Community Development.

Wesley D. Seitz and Austin A. Apgar have established the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics Academic Excellence Fund to enrich the academic environment in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE). It is the first endowment fund jointly created by an emeritus faculty member and a current student. Seitz contributed a lead gift of $10,000 and Apgar has pledged a lead gift of $15,000 over a five-year period. It is anticipated that others will be invited to contribute to the fund or an associated fund.

Bill Condon supplied the idea and funding for a project that has evolved into a hard bound book released to coincide with the 75th anniversary celebration of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics in November 2007.