March 04, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University announced today that it will name the Early Childhood Center
of the Clinical Education Complex (CEC) in honor of long-time supporters Dan and Vickie Renshaw of Bowling Green.
The Renshaws have a passion for the CEC that stems from two small blessings in their lives: their grandsons Danny, age 11, and Rush, age 5, both of whom have autism. Several years ago the Renshaws were introduced to the concept of the Clinical Education Complex by their friend and CEC visionary, Suzanne Vitale, and they have been staunch supporters since the program’s inception.
Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, said the CEC is an interdisciplinary and collaborative project that offers a comprehensive clinical setting for education and health and human services professionals. It builds upon a strong tradition at WKU to meet local community needs, fill service delivery gaps, provide opportunities for applied research, and enrich both undergraduate and graduate students’ educational experiences through an interdisciplinary team approach. The facility, which officially opened its doors in August 2006, is located at a former business complex on 14th and Adams streets.
Hiles said the Renshaws recently made a gift of $290,410 to help finalize funding for the construction of the facility. They have given a total of $500,000 in support of the entire project.
“The CEC project has largely been a grassroots effort, in which 535 donors have given nearly $3.8 million to support the vision of a number of community volunteers and campus leaders,” he said. “We are so grateful that Dan and Vickie Renshaw have been leadership donors in supporting the CEC’s programs.”
“Suzanne gave us a vision for what the CEC was going to be,” Dan Renshaw explained. “We have not been disappointed.”
Dan Renshaw said his wife has been very passionate about supporting the CEC. “She has been working with our daughter-in-law, Donna Renshaw, since our oldest grandson was two years old,” he said. “I truly believe that God picks special angels to parent these children—those who have the ability to cope and make the children feel loved at all times. She is a terrific mother. Our grandchildren have received a great benefit from their involvement with the programs in the CEC. It has truly been a blessing.”
Mary Lloyd Moore, CEC executive director, said this gift will have a huge impact on the program’s ability to provide effective programs and support for children with disabilities and their families. “As a direct result of this gift, the CEC will be able to make a significant difference in the lives of families in the Bowling Green and Warren County and beyond,” she said.
Lisa Murphy, director of the Early Childhood Center, agrees. “The Renshaw gift will allow us to now focus on locating additional funding for our programmatic priorities,” she said.
Murphy said the mission of the Renshaw Early Childhood Center is to be a regional and national leader in interdisciplinary education for training, research and service to health and education professionals for advancing the health, development and learning potential of children.
“The Early Childhood Center space was custom designed to meet the needs of young children and is a state-of-the-art early childhood classroom,” she explained. “Parents, WKU staff and faculty, and visitors routinely comment on the stimulating and developmentally appropriate nature of the classroom.”
According to WKU Provost Barbara Burch, the CEC has become a wonderful example of what can be accomplished through University-community partnerships.
“The CEC provides an exceptional opportunity for enhancing the learning experiences of our students, encouraging relevant research for our faculty and students, and for contributing to the needs and priorities of the community we serve,” Dr. Burch said. “The reality of the CEC would not be possible without the generous support of special partners such as Dan and Vicki Renshaw who are helping us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.”
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For more information, contact Tom Hiles at (270) 745-6208.
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