A grant from the Concord, N.C., foundation moves the university closer to breaking ground on the project.
The Cannon Foundation has given $250,000 to Elon in support of the university’s new Inman Admissions Welcome Center, providing key funding for construction of the facility.
The building is an outgrowth of the Elon Commitment, the university’s 10-year strategic plan, and will provide a prominent campus location for all admissions, campus visit and financial aid operations.
“The directors of The Cannon Foundation appreciate the strong leadership Dr. Lambert has shown over the years and the positive outcomes Elon has experienced,” says Frank Davis, executive director of the foundation. “We were pleased to help in a small way to assure the continued success of the university and the achievements of thousands of students who will pass through the doors of this important facility.”
Designed to accommodate a growing number of prospective students, the facility’s 32,000-square-foot floor plan includes a two-story lobby and atrium, two presentation theaters, staff offices, interview rooms and conference space.
A location at the north end of a new campus quadrangle along North O’Kelly Avenue puts the building in close proximity to major university landmarks such as the Moseley Center and Belk Library, and provides convenient access for visitors traveling to campus.
The foundation’s support comes as the most recent in a series of private contributions to the project. In June, the university announced a lead gift for the facility from Elon parents Bill and Pat Inman, for whom the building will be named. A major gift from Jamey and Tracey ’84 Walser Nugent, also Elon parents, was announced in July. The building’s lobby and atrium will be named in their honor.
The contributions bring the university closer to its $4 million fundraising goal for the project, which will require an estimated $6 million to complete. Elon will break ground for the building once the fundraising goal is met.
Established in 1943 by the late Charles A. Cannon, the Cannon Foundation primarily awards grants to North Carolina-based organizations in the fields of healthcare and education. The foundation has a long philanthropic history at Elon, with previous support including the university’s master of science in physician assistant studies program, the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, the R.N. Ellington Health and Counseling Center and other initiatives.