VCU News Center – VCU Receives $1.2 Million Gift to Support VCU Rice Center

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News releases and media advisories

For immediate release:
8/10/2009

Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
VCU Communications and Public Relations
(804) 828-6057
pdlepley@vcu.edu

VCU Receives $1.2 Million Gift to Support VCU Rice Center

Inger Rice

Virginia Commonwealth University has received a $1.2 million gift from long-time benefactor Inger Rice.

The gift was made in recognition of the start of Michael Rao's tenure as VCU president, and will support initiatives at the Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences in Charles City County.

“Mrs. Rice’s ongoing generosity of the VCU Rice Center exemplifies her commitment to the environment, education and future of our community and beyond,” said Dr. Rao. “I am thankful to Mrs. Rice for her magnanimous generosity and dedication to excellence and I am confident that important work will continue to be accomplished at the center.”

The new Inger Rice Endowment Fund will provide funds to maintain the Walter L. Rice Education Building, the first LEED platinum building in Virginia – the highest sustainability rating possible -- as well as grounds and roads on the property.

Rice donated $2 million for construction of the education building in 2007. It opened in October and houses lecture and laboratory rooms for classes, a conference room and offices. The 4,900-square-foot building features sustainable strategies for efficient energy use, lighting, water and material use.

“I am so pleased with the development of both facilities and programs at the center that I wanted to create a significant endowment for the Walter Rice Education Building,” Rice said. “It has always been important to me to show support and encourage others to join in. It will take all of us working together to positively impact the environment. I cannot think of a more important legacy. That is why I chose to make this gift during my lifetime so I could see its effect on the Rice Center and its impact on the environment.”

The VCU Rice Center was created from an ecology-rich, 343-acre parcel of land that Rice donated to VCU in 2000. It is located on the north bank of the historic James River, southeast of Richmond in Charles City County. VCU Life Sciences uses the property for research, education and outreach activities, many of which focus on large rivers and their riparian landscapes.

“Mrs. Rice has been the heart and soul of the VCU Rice Center,” said Thomas Huff, vice provost for VCU Life Sciences.

Likewise, Leonard Smock, Ph.D., director of the Rice Center, praised the invaluable financial support and direction Rice has offered to the center over the years.

“She is a leader, cheerleader and parent to all of the scientists, teachers and students who have directly benefited from their educational experiences at the Rice Center,” he said.

About VCU and the VCU Medical Center:

Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located on two downtown campuses in Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 32,000 students in 205 certificate and degree programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-five of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU’s 15 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. For more, see www.vcu.edu.