Donors provide additional $13M for new KU School of Business building



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LAWRENCE — Momentum is growing for a new School of Business building at the University of Kansas, with donors contributing an additional $13 million for the project to date.

Private philanthropy for the building project includes these leadership gifts:

• The Hall Family Foundation, of Kansas City, Mo., $2.5 million;

• David and Suzanne Booth, of Austin, Texas, $2.5 million (David earned a master’s degree in business from KU in 1969);

• Dana and Sue Anderson, of Los Angeles, $1.4 million (Dana earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1956);

• Howard and Debbi Cohen, of Leawood, $1.1 million (Howard earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1979);

• Roger and Julie Davis, of Chicago, $1 million (Roger earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1972);

• Ned and Janis Riss, of Mission Hills, $1 million (Ned earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1971; and a master’s degree in business in 1972);

• Tony and Vicki Batman, of Dallas, $500,000 (Tony earned a bachelor’s degree in business from KU in 1979).

These leadership gift donors all have strong ties to the School of Business. Moreover, additional donors have given just over $3 million in other gifts.

In October, the university announced a $20 million lead gift for the new building from Capitol Federal Foundation, of Topeka.

“The creation of a new building is so critical to the advancement of the KU School of Business,” said School of Business Dean Neeli Bendapudi. “I am excited to see the support for this project, and it is worth noting that a significant portion of these donations were made by members of the school’s advisory board.”

KU Endowment is working with alumni and friends to complete private funding for the building, which is expected to cost approximately $60 million. The six-story, 166,000-square-foot building will be located on the east side of Naismith Drive, across from Allen Fieldhouse at the south entrance of the campus.

The gifts are part of Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, the university’s $1.2 billion comprehensive campaign.

The campaign is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.