Bogus Smith Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Hobby Lobby pledges $10M to Florida school by: SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer An Oklahoma chain store run by the family of Oral Roberts University Board Chairman Mart Green has donated $10 million to the Florida university where Green found ORU's recently announced president. OR named Southeastern University President Mark Rutland to its top post at ORU on Wednesday. He will start July 1 after 10 years at Southeastern. Green's family donated $70 to save ORU from mounting debt. His principles of shared governance and financial transparency have helped the school to refocus on its mission. The donation to Southeastern is through Hobby Lobby, which the family founded along with Mardel, a Christian bookstore and office supply chain. It will be paid over the next five years in $2 million increments. In a letter to Southeastern trustees, Green said he was moved to make the contribution after visiting the university's Lakeland, Fla., campus. “As a result of recent visits to the campus of Southeastern University, we are impressed with the vibrant programs of Christian higher education and the beautiful facilities and campus,” he said. “It is our hope that the financial assistance will only increase SEU’s current financial strength. “ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Minyard Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 How big time is the Green family? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORU Eli Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Big enough that I'd give Mart Green at least a +5 if he posted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmg1984 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 just bought the ledger (local fla newspaper) and saw the great news! lakeland is only 30 min from where im staying very positive press release were moving on up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogus Smith Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 This article tells a little bit more about the reason for the $10M contribution to SEU. New ORU president says he has founder's blessing by: BILL SHERMAN AND SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writers Oral Roberts informally handed the care of the university he founded to its incoming president last week. Southeastern University President Mark Rutland, named the new Oral Roberts University president Wednesday, and ORU board Chairman Mart Green had flown to California, where they met with Roberts, 91. "It was a great meeting with Oral," said Rutland, who has met the evangelist several times. "He was sweet, generous. It was what I would call a handoff. It was like he said to us, 'Here, take this university make it better.' "He was really gracious." Rutland said he has never met Richard Roberts, Oral Roberts' son, who resigned as ORU's president in late 2007. Rutland will start at ORU on July 1 after 10 years at Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts college in Lakeland, Fla. Green announced Thursday that the Hobby Lobby store chain founded and owned by his family has donated $10 million to Southeastern. The family also owns Mardel, a Christian bookstore and office supply chain. Green's family had donated $70 million to save ORU from mounting debt. His principles of shared governance and financial transparency have helped the school refocus on its mission. The donation to Southeastern will be paid over the next five years in $2 million increments. Green said in a letter to Southeastern's trustees that he was moved to make the contribution after he visited the campus. "As a result of recent visits to the campus of Southeastern University, we are impressed with the vibrant programs of Christian higher education and the beautiful facilities and campus," he wrote. "It is our hope that the financial assistance will only increase SEU's current financial strength." In an e-mailed statement, Hobby Lobby CEO David Green said the donation is good for both ORU and Southeastern. "Facing a difficult decision on his professional future, Dr. Mark Rutland shared his firm commitment to reducing Southeastern's debt before making any decisions about his future," he said. "Mart came to me and our family and after prayerful thought, our family decided we could independently fulfill Dr. Rutland's financial commitment to Southeastern while also fulfilling a strong call Mart and the search committee felt from the Lord that Dr. Rutland would accomplish wonderful things at ORU." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.