Robert S. Morrison Foundation donates $500,000 to KSUA

ASHTABULA - - The Robert S. Morrison Foundation contributed $500,000 toward the construction of Kent State University-Ashtabula's new Health and Science Building, Thursday afternoon.

This donation will give the foundation naming rights for the main entrance and lobby of the new building.

KSUA Dean Susan Stocker said the donation addresses two of Morrison's community values: education and health.

"Robert Morrison would be pleased to know that the foundation named in his honor, has made such a generous leadership gift to the Health and Science Building," Stocker said. "Mr. Morrison understood the value of education and health care, as well as the value this university adds to our community."

The foundation says KSUA is a valuable community resource and helps citizens receive a college education, according to Louise Raffa, Robert S. Morrison Foundation president. The new center also will enhance health care in the county and provide health-care career education and training.

"Our founder (Morrison) felt strongly about this college, and I know he would have wanted to support this," Raffa said.

The foundation feels by participating in the center's construction and making a substantial contribution, it will encourage others in the community to do the same, she said.

The vision of the Robert S. Morrison Foundation is primarily "to improve the lives of people in the Ashtabula area," Raffa said.

This is the largest donation from a local foundation toward this project. In June, the Ashtabula County Medical Center Foundation donated $250,000.

The new Health and Science Building will feature state-of-the-art laboratories and technologically advanced classrooms, plus an auditorium-style classroom. It will be used mainly by nursing, physical therapy and other Allied Health programs.

New academic requirements make it necessary for all degree-seeking students to take at least one laboratory science, which has increased the need for up-to-date classrooms and facilities. The building also will be available for the continuing education of emergency medical technicians, and for cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes and the training of local hospital and fire department employees.

The center will cost about $12 million, and the university still needs to raise about $4 million. The building will be located in front of the Technical Building on the west side of the campus. Groundbreaking is scheduled for spring 2007, and KSUA expects to start using the building in fall 2008.