A new gift will endow a scholarship in honor of Bishop James M. and Mrs. Dorothy Ault and help future Africa University students to realize their full potential for leadership.
Initially, Mrs. Ault envisioned making the gift of $130,000 as a bequest in honor of her late husband. When she talked it over with family and friends, they encouraged her to invest now and in both their names.
The gift is a major contribution to the Campaign for Africa University a four-year effort to raise $50 million to upgrade facilities, provide funding for faculty chairs, for research support to help attract faculty and fund much needed scholarships.
"We hope that the scholarship will enable some gifted young people, both men and women, to become strong and effective leaders wherever they choose to serve," said Mrs. Ault.
The gift highlights a longstanding connection with Africa that Bishop and Mrs. Ault shared. Elected as an episcopal leader of the United Methodist Church in 1972, Bishop and Mrs. Ault soon traveled to Mozambique, Zambia and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), to learn more about the denomination's work and mission.
"Visiting churches and schools in those nations and sharing with local church leaders and members in these diverse nations left us with many profoundly moving and enlightening experiences," said Mrs. Ault.
As president of the General Board of Global Ministries from 1985-1989, Bishop Ault helped to guide crucial deliberations leading to the inception of Africa University.
"Seeing Africa University's amazing growth and vitality, including its effective reach to students and faculty from across Sub-Saharan Africa, has been exciting," said Mrs. Ault.
That excitement is a key ingredient in the ongoing success of Africa University's first churchwide campaign.
"We will be successful because Africa and the world need the graduates from Africa University," said Aubrey Lucas, the chair of the campaign.
The campaign raised $26.2 million in cash and pledges in its silent phase. As the public phase of the campaign unfolds, major gifts are being sought from individual contributors. e campaign plans call for about $12 million to be raised through planned giving.
To learn more about the Campaign for Africa University, visit www.support-africauniversity.org/campaign. You may contact the Africa University Development office at (615) 340-7438 or email [email protected].
Andra M. Stevens, Director, Communications, Africa University Development Office
A World Service Special Gift is a designated financial contribution made by an individual, local church, organization, district or annual conference to a project authorized as such by the Connectional Table. Current World Service Special Gifts projects include the Africa University Endowment Fund, the Leonard Perryman Communications Scholarship for Ethnic Minority Students, the Methodist Global Education Fund, the National Anti-Gambling Project and the Lay Missionary Planting Network.
