Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has released additional information following the recent announcement of the largest-ever single gift in the university’s history that will be allocated to supporting a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to pharmacy and healthcare education.
The facility will be named the Jerry & Margaret Hodge Pharmacy & Rural Health Center in honor of a major charitable investment from longtime SWOSU benefactors Jerry and Margaret Hodge of Amarillo (TX). The gift from the Hodges will complement the estimated $7 million in resources, which will be provided by the recently passed sales tax by the citizens of Weatherford with a focus on rural health sciences and education.
“Jerry and Margaret Hodge’s historic gift to SWOSU makes immediate provision for increased student scholarships while also investing in our long-term strategic vision of SWOSU becoming the premiere center for rural health education in our region,” said SWOSU Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement Garrett King.
As part of the gift, the Hodges have generously committed $500,000 in new pharmacy scholarships to the Southwestern Pharmacy Alumni Foundation, Inc., contingent on SWOSU raising a matching valuation of $500,000 in new pharmacy scholarships for the SWOSU Foundation, Inc.
“We are asking SWOSU’s generous community of alumni, emeriti and friends to unite in raising the $500,000 matching total of scholarship gifts to support our College of Pharmacy students and to recognize Jerry and Margaret Hodge’s generosity,” King said.
SWOSU is currently strategizing the next steps towards construction of the Hodge Pharmacy & Rural Health Center. University and Foundation leaders are working to secure additional funding for the facility from a variety of governmental and nonprofit entities as well as from private donors. The construction timeline and detailed plans for the Hodge Pharmacy & Rural Health Center will be formulated and solidified as funding is secured.
“This approach is in keeping with previous efforts like the planning for and building of the Pioneer Cellular Events Center and the Everett Dobson Golf Training Facility,” King said.
An official launch of the Hodge pharmacy scholarship fundraising effort is forthcoming. However, donors who wish to contribute now may visit www.GiveToSWOSU.com. Contributions may also be made via check made payable to “SWOSU Foundation” with “Hodge Pharmacy Scholarship” noted in the memorandum line; checks may be mailed to:
SWOSU Foundation, Inc.
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
Contributions may also be made by calling the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3267. Updates will be provided as they become available. For more information, please contact the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement at 580-774-3267.