DBU Receives $1.5 Million Matching Gift from Mabee Foundation

A graphic representation of the future Residential College

Dallas, TX – After receiving a $1.5 million challenge grant from the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2017, Dallas Baptist University recently reached the needed amount to be raised to receive the grant. The funds are committed toward the construction of Phase I of the Transform Campaign, which will develop the east campus of the University and establish DBU’s first Residential College.

"Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Mabee Foundation for their generosity," said Dr. Adam C. Wright, DBU President. "The Mabee Foundation has been one of the strongest and most consistent supporters of DBU through the years. They believe in our mission to provide Christ-centered education that will transform future generations of students, and we are so thankful that they have joined us in partnership of this new vision to create a Residential College on campus."

DBU has received several generous gifts from the Mabee Foundation over the past 20 years. In 1991, the Mabee Foundation issued a challenge grant of $750,000 towards the completion of the John G. Mahler Student Center. The foundation also gave a $1 million grant in 1998 towards the $6.3 million Spence Hall women’s dormitory, a $1 million challenge grant in 2006 to complete the $24 million Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel campaign, and a $1 million challenge grant in 2013 to complete construction of $8.4 million Jim and Sally Nation Hall.

The Mabee Foundation was founded in 1948 by John and Lottie Mabee. Currently, the foundation assists religious, charitable and educational organizations in a six-state region, including Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Written by Courtney Smith

Courtney Smith is a freelance content writer for University Communications at Dallas Baptist University.