Fundraising goal met for education complex at UNK

The goal to raise $4 million in private donations for the new UNMC-University of Nebraska at Kearney Health Science Education Complex at UNK has been met.

A challenge grant of $1.5 million from the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation of Omaha to raise at least $1.36 million from other donors to support construction of the facility was a success and helped push fundraising to the goal, announced the University of Nebraska Foundation.

First National Bank donated $500,000 to the challenge in support of the new academic facility and what it will accomplish in health care education and training.

“It’s vital that Nebraskans have access to quality health care across the state,” said Clark D. Lauritzen, executive vice president of First National Bank. “We are pleased to support this joint initiative to provide the best possible primary care in our rural areas while educating future health professionals to serve those communities.”

The challenge also encouraged Jim D. and Faye D. Rasmussen of Ravenna to give $250,000 to support the new facility.

The first leadership gift for the project was a $1 million donation from CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney announced in 2013.

Other donors who contributed to the success of the project include Sharron Altmaier of Kearney, Larry and Mary Lynn Callen of Windsor, Colo., Ron and Carol Cope Foundation, Tom and Mary Henning of Kearney, Hildreth Family Scholarship Fund, Kearney Clinic, John and Sharon Martin of Riverdale, Wayne and Virginia McKinney of Kearney, Minden Exchange Bank, J. Scott and Teri Nelson of Lincoln, John and Sonia Sahling of Kearney, Gloria G. Tye Family, and Paul and Linda Younes of Kearney.