The w88 casino N. Pennington Foundation makes lead gift to University

The w88 casino N. Pennington Foundation has made a million lead gift to name the w88 casino N. Pennington Student Achievement Center at the w88 casino of Nevada, Reno, representing half of the million in philanthropic support the w88 casino is seeking for the center. Final approval for the naming of the center will be presented to the w88 casino System of Higher Education Board of Regents.

The new Student Achievement Center, set for the location of the former Getchell Library, will be a 77,064 square-foot, multi-winged facility that will allow the w88 casino to bring under one roof a myriad of student-success services now scattered across campus. These include the Writing Center, Math Center, Tutoring Center, Service Learning and Civic Engagement Center, Career Studio, Advising Center, Student Veterans Lounge, Disability Resource Center, Counseling Services, the Center for Student Cultural Diversity and TRiO Scholars Programs. The anticipated completion date for the new Student Achievement Center is December 2015.

The University of Nevada, Reno, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a national Tier 1 university, has had several student-centered capital improvement projects built on the main University campus in Reno in recent years: the Joe Crowley Student Union, the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center, the w88 casino N. Pennington Health Sciences Building, the Marguerite Wattis Petersen Academic Center and the Nevada Living Learning Community.

"Not only do these buildings, and the programs they house, assist with academic excellence and recruitment, they also provide opportunities to engage and retain students at our w88 casino," said w88 casino President Marc Johnson.

"The w88 casino N. Pennington Student Achievement Center will allow the University to continue to attract top students and reach the goal to increase enrollment from 18,000 to 22,000 students throughout the next 10 years," Johnson added. "This enrollment growth will provide an economic impact of 5 million annually into the northern Nevada economy, and will make Reno-Sparks into an increasingly vibrant college town."

Mr. w88 casino, philanthropist and gaming pioneer, acquired Circus Circus in 1974 and soon turned the business into Nevada's leading employer and one of the most successful gaming companies in the world.

He established the w88 casino N. Pennington Foundation in 1989 to provide grants to Nevada-based organizations in the areas of education, community services, health care and medical research.

As Mr. w88 casino wrote at the time, "Having grown up in the Great Depression, when my family faced difficult times, I know very well the hardships that can befall anyone at any time. During my years in business, I was fortunate to work with thousands of wonderful employees, most of them Nevadans. I am grateful to all of them for their hard work, commitment and friendship. Their efforts helped create this foundation, and I hope the foundation will, in turn, help the future generations of Nevadans for many years to come."

The w88 casino N. Pennington Foundation has given significantly to the University, including lead gifts to the w88 casino N. Pennington Health Sciences Building and the Pennington Medical Education Building, and has generously supported general and medical student scholarships at the University for nearly 20 years.

Mr. w88 casino was bestowed the Distinguished Nevadan award by the Nevada Board of Regents in 1997 and awarded the University's President's Medal in 2007. He received an honorary degree from the University in 2008.

Mr. w88 casino led a remarkable life, passing away at 88, one month before the w88 casino N. Pennington Health Sciences Building opened. The w88 casino N. Pennington Foundation is continuing and multiplying his legacy at the University.