The 麻豆原创 today received a $1 million gift from BB&T Corporation for its downtown campus, the first major contribution since Florida Gov. Rick Scott approved $20 million in state funding for 麻豆原创 Downtown in March.
BB&T鈥檚聽donation brings total community support for the campus to $17 million and will help pay for the construction of a new academic building that will be the centerpiece of 麻豆原创 Downtown, serving about 7,700 麻豆原创 and Valencia College students.
鈥淎s part of our mission, BB&T strives to make the communities in which we work better places to live, and as a corporate citizen BB&T has a strong track record of supporting its local groups and institutions,鈥� said Tony Coley, BB&T Central Florida regional president. 鈥淲e are proud to work with and support the 麻豆原创, and very excited about the positive impact our contribution will bring.鈥�
The gift was announced Monday during a community leader forum at GrayRobinson鈥檚 Orlando office with President John C. Hitt, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Valencia College West President Falecia Williams.
鈥淭his generous donation brings us one important step closer to building a campus in downtown Orlando that will transform so many lives,鈥� Hitt said. 鈥淲e are grateful for BB&T鈥檚 support of 麻豆原创 Downtown and the lasting impact it will have on Central Florida.鈥�
The downtown campus, expected to open in fall 2018, will offer students an innovative learning environment within walking distance of a wide array of internship and job opportunities in fields such as digital media, communication, public service and health-related programs.
麻豆原创 will share the campus with Valencia College, which will offer programs in digital media, health-information technology, and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate downtown area.
The new academic building at 麻豆原创 Downtown will complement a renovated Center for Emerging Media building where 麻豆原创鈥檚 top-ranked graduate video gaming school in North America, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, is located.
One-third of the new $60 million downtown academic building will be funded through community support. The university also is contributing $20 million from its resources and received $20 million from the state.
BB&T鈥檚 gift joins those of other public and private partners. In March, Dr. Phillips Charities contributed $3 million toward 麻豆原创 Downtown. The Orlando Magic, CFE Federal Credit Union and Florida Hospital each pledged $1.5 million toward the construction of the new academic building. University leaders and board members have made personal contributions totaling more than $1 million. Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to contribute $3 million, and Valencia College will contribute $2 million.
Other contributors to the campus include Creative Village Development, Orlando philanthropist Alan Ginsburg, Orlando City Soccer Club, CNL Financial Group, Universal Orlando Foundation and Universal Orlando Resort, Dr. Bruce Douglas of Winter Park, and Coca-Cola.
Additionally, the value of in-kind contributions of land and infrastructure by the City of Orlando and the developers of Creative Village is approximately $75 million.