Congratulations to the Ringling School of Art and Design (Florida), which recently received a record-breaking $15 million donation from Board of Trustees member Dr. Joel Morganroth and his wife, Dr. Gail Morrison Morganroth. This is the college’s largest single gift in its 86-year history.
“Drs. Morganroth, both visionaries and philanthropists, were looking to invest in a non-profit organization in the community that reflects and perpetuates their core values: strong leadership, forward thinking, fiscal responsibility, and a sense of morality and ethics,” says a recent press release. “But it wouldn’t be just any organization — education is of paramount importance to the couple. They found this all at Ringling College.”
“Right now, big and exciting things are happening at Ringling College,” says Dr. Morganroth. “To name a few, the College recently announced that it has begun enrolling students in the world’s first major in virtual reality leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In addition, the College has one of the world’s best animation programs and the College was ranked as one of the six best art and design colleges this past summer. But these things don’t happen on their own, it takes support to bring ideas to fruition and to turn vision into reality. We are so proud to be part of and look forward to supporting an organization on such a fast rise. We hope our gift will inspire others to join us in investing in the future of art and design, technology, education, and the Sarasota region.”
“Art and design is about progress, creativity, change, and growth, and Ringling College has been dedicated to educating and inspiring artists and designers from around the globe for over 86 years,” says Dr. Larry R. Thompson, soon to be entering his 20th year as President of the college. “But that mission cannot be accomplished without the support and generosity of our friends. We are honored and grateful for this momentous gift—a gift that will bolster every corner of our institution.”
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