This week’s Weekly Heartbeat highlights a record $15 million gift to Ashland University for dormitory renovations, $15 million to launch a new pediatric campus at UT Southwestern and Children’s Health, and $10 million for immunotherapy research at Tampa General Hospital. Also featured: $1 million gifts benefiting medicine at IUP, nursing at Belmont, and global engagement at Clemson.
$15M to UT Southwestern and Children’s Health for New Pediatric Campus
Dallas-based Energy Transfer and its management team have committed $15 million to support a new $5 billion pediatric campus, a joint venture between UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health. Marking the company’s largest philanthropic contribution to date, the gift will help fund the 4.9 million-square-foot facility currently under construction in the Southwestern Medical District. Slated to open in 2031, the expansive campus is designed with direct input from patients, families, and clinicians to deliver world-class, human-centered pediatric care. Read more here.
Record $15M to Ashland University for Dormitory Renovations
Dwight and Martha Schar have committed a historic $15 million to Ashland University, marking the single largest gift in the institution’s history. Their transformational donation will fund the university’s most extensive dormitory renovation project ever. Plans include a complete update for Amstutz Hall, Jacobs Hall, and the first floor of Andrews Hall. With renovations set for completion by Fall 2026, the modernized residence halls promise to elevate the residential experience for future generations. Read more here.
$10M to Tampa General Hospital Foundation for Immunotherapy and Surgical Innovation
Ian and Jean MacKechnie have made a transformational $10 million gift to the Tampa General Hospital Foundation. Inspired by the phenomenal colorectal cancer care Ian received at TGH, the donation will create the new 8,000-square-foot Ian & Jean MacKechnie Immunotherapy Lab within the TGH Cancer Institute and support the under-construction Taneja Surgical, Neuroscience & Transplant Tower. The new lab, housed in the USF Health building, will serve as a hub for immunotherapy innovation, developing precision-targeted treatments and arming the immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. Read more here.
$1M to IUP for Proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) alumnus Terry A. Serafini has gifted $1 million to support the university’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine. The gift brings the university’s “Impact 150” comprehensive fundraising campaign total to over $102 million. The proposed college aims to address the rural health crisis by training doctors of osteopathic medicine, who are historically more likely to practice primary care in underserved and rural areas. Read more here.
$1M to Clemson University to Expand Global Engagement Opportunities
Clemson University alumni Thom and Gretchen Penney have gifted $1 million to the College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC) to establish the Penney Global Engagement Fund. The donation will provide grants-in-aid for students participating in worldwide initiatives and support the hiring of a new Director of Global and Regional Engagement. The deeply personal gift was inspired by the incredible support the couple received from the university community after Thom suffered a life-threatening medical emergency during a Clemson-led trip to Barcelona in 2025. Read more here.
$1M to Belmont University for Nursing Scholarships and Bridge Program
Gordon and Shaun Inman have gifted $1 million to Belmont University‘s Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing. Split equally between two funds, the donation will establish a new endowed scholarship and support the Nursing BSN: Community College Bridge Program. The gift deepens the Inmans’ decades-long commitment to the university and removes financial barriers for aspiring nurses transferring from community colleges to complete their degrees. Read more here.
