FRESNO – Fresno Pacific University received a $60 million gift from an anonymous alumnus, the largest donation the university has ever received in its 82-year history.
Announced at the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center on Sept. 14, Fresno Pacific president André Stephens said that the gift will go towards growing the university’s nursing program and building a new track and field facility, among other capital projects.
The donation will also fund countless student scholarships, according to a press release.
“This is truly a transformational moment in the history of Fresno Pacific University,” Stephens said in a statement. “This extraordinary generosity will create opportunities for generations of students and strengthen our ability to serve the Central Valley in ways that will be felt far beyond our campuses. We are deeply grateful for the donor’s belief in our students, our mission and the future of Fresno Pacific.”
During the announcement, Stephens read aloud a statement from the donor, who shared that they were raised by a single mother and deeply influenced by professors and mentors while attending Fresno Pacific.
“I want this gift to create opportunities for students for many years to come,” the donor said in the statement. “My hope is that it will help students pursue their education, strengthen healthcare here in the Valley and give student-athletes the opportunity to excel in competition, in the classroom and in their faith.”
A large portion of the donation will go towards strengthening the school’s nursing program, which includes establishing a physicians associates degree program expected to launch in May 2029. Other investments include facilities to help train future healthcare professionals.
Stephens also emphasized that the university aims to serve both its student population and the community at large. Noting that many students are from the Central Valley and choose to stay after college, he believes that the university provides them with the knowledge to support their communities as a “landmark” for healthcare in the region, according to Fresno Pacific spokesperson Michael Hammond.
Hammond added that university leadership saw the incoming associates degree program as a way for the school to “add to the Valley.”
Fresno Pacific’s planned additions to the nursing program have also received praise from U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, who celebrated the donation and called it a “major investment in our Valley’s healthcare future.”
“With the goal of making Fresno Pacific a premier institution in the Central Valley for healthcare education and preparation, this investment will open doors for the next generation of healthcare professionals and strengthen access to quality care across our Valley,” Costa said in a statement on X.
