11/16/2007
MICHAEL STRAND
LINSDBORG — Bethany College on Friday announced three major gifts.

A $1 million challenge grant will bring a new Swedish chapel and welcome center to the Lindsborg campus, a $400,000 gift will support scholarships for music education students, and a third gift of a little more than $400,000 will bring the Messiah Festival's endowment to $1 million.

Bethany  President Edward Leonard III made the announcement at a news conference on the college campus.

According to a news release issued ahead of the news conference, the $1 million challenge grant will come from Gerald “Bud” Pearson, a long-time friend of the college.

If the college raises $1 million toward the project by June 30, Pearson will donate a matching gift of $1 million. When fulfilled, the Pearson challenge grant will be the largest gift from a living donor in the college’s 126-year history.

Pearson and his wife, Beverly, live in Okoboji, Iowa. The $400,000 estate gift comes from the Ronald “Max” Green and Tulsa Lea (Tease) Green Trust.

Max Green received his bachelor’s in music education from Bethany in 1958. He and his wife worked for many years in the Olathe public school system and operated a music store in Olathe.

The other $400,000 gift is anonymous.
For more on what the gifts mean for Bethany College, read reporter Michael Strand's story in Saturday's Salina Journal.