FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/18/06

Greenville College Receives $1.5 Million Lead Gift from Andrews Family for Future Chapel

College's largest ever gift from a living donor is first step in major fundraising effort for new chapel/auditorium

Greenville College is one step closer to its dream of a new chapel / auditorium large enough to accommodate its growing student body. A $1.5 million lead gift was received in December from one of the children of the late Edwin A. and Bessie Andrews, who served in the Free Methodist ministry in the early decades of the past century.

Preliminary planning has begun for a new chapel / auditorium with seating for 1,500 - 1,700, but it could be 2 - 3 years or more before construction begins. The cost of the project is unknown but will be significantly more than $1.5 million. The college wants to raise the entire amount needed in cash and pledges before breaking ground.

Although the donor of the $1.5 million lead gift does not yet want to be recognized by name, the intent of the gift is to honor the memory and legacy of his parents, Rev. Edwin (also called E. A.) and Bessie Andrews. Rev. Andrews pastored the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church and later served in the prominent role of superintendent of the Southern Michigan Conference.

During a lifetime of ministry beginning the year of their marriage in 1905, they pastored churches in Oklahoma, Ohio (where he also served as superintendent), and Michigan. E. A. was also president of a Free Methodist seminary in Campbell, Texas, from 1913 - 1918, and served on the first Investment and Finance Committee of the Free Methodist Church of North America, established by the General Conference of 1931.

E. A. and Bessie Andrews had 10 children, nine boys and one girl. Five of the boys are still living, all now in their 80s and 90s. None of those still living attended Greenville College, including the donor, but three brothers who are now deceased were GC graduates. Several descendants from later generations also attended Greenville.

In addition to being the largest non-estate gift in the college's history, the other unusual thing about this donation is that it was negotiated entirely through an intermediary, Audrey Walter, who is a granddaughter of E. A. and Bessie Andrews and a niece of the donor. The donor is a very private person who was reluctant to meet or even speak with any representative from the college prior to making the gift. Aside from written communications, all contacts with the donor have been made by Mrs. Walter.

"This gift would never have happened without Audrey's help," said Dave Disch, senior director of Advancement. "It is very unusual for a donor not to have any direct contact with the college before making a gift like this, but in this case it worked. I think the reason Audrey was so effective in this role is that her uncle knows she cares more about him than his money."

This gift comes at an opportune time. Signs of growth were everywhere this past fall at Greenville College. Enrollment surpassed 1,000 for the first time ever, ground was broken for a new dormitory, even the largest classrooms were at or near capacity, and NBC's "Today Show" came to campus to profile the school as an example of the recent growth of Christian colleges.

This growth was nowhere more evident than in the overcrowded chapel services. Required chapel services are held three times a week in the 600-seat Wilson Recital Hall, and even with extra chairs set up in the back, the facility is no longer adequate for the growing student body. A satellite location with live video feed had to be set up in LaDue Auditorium across the street to handle the overflow.

The mandatory chapel program is a key component of the college's emphasis on spiritual development. Chapel is often referred to as the largest classroom. It has been 30 years or more since the college's chapel facility was large enough to accommodate the entire student body and faculty. A new chapel facility with seating for 1,500 - 1,700 would solve that problem and allow room for future growth.

The location of the new chapel would be west of the Whitlock Music Center on the same block. The project will also include an atrium or lobby area that will connect the Music Center with the new chapel. Preliminary plans include a basement space below the atrium that could be the new home of the "Black Room," where student bands perform concerts for small audiences.

Dr. David A. Hoag, the college's senior vice president for Advancement, said it is much too early in the planning process to know what features the project will include. "We would like to have seating for 1,700 but that depends on how much money we're able to raise over the next two or three years."

Dr. Hoag hopes other Andrews family members will get excited about the project and want to get involved by making additional gifts. "This is a great opportunity to preserve the legacy of E. A. and Bessie Andrews by helping to build a chapel where many future generations of students will worship God and deepen their Christian faith," said Dr. Hoag.

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with total enrollment of 1,450 students in traditional undergraduate, master's, and adult degree completion programs. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.

www.greenville.edu

CONTACT:
Dave Disch ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Senior Director of Advancement
Greenville College
618) 664-6500