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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowButler University has landed a $2.5 million gift to help support its new two-year college aimed at increasing educational opportunities for historically underserved students.
The gift, announced Tuesday morning, is from Indianapolis philanthropist and Butler University alumna Marianne Glick and her spouse, Mike Woods.
The two-year college, named Founder’s College, will launch in August 2025. Butler said it will offer an affordable financial model paired with wraparound support services including flexible schedules, paid internships and emergency funds.
Students can earn an associate’s degree with little or no debt or out-of-pocket costs with the help of state and federal grants. Students who graduate from Founder’s College can pursue a bachelor’s degree at Butler for about $10,000, the university said.
Glick, who has donated to a wide range of philanthropic causes, including support of K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions that are working to improve educational opportunities, said she views support of Founder’s College as a continuation of that advocacy work.
“I’m really thrilled Butler is doing this,” she said in written remarks. “Providing affordable education at a high-quality school like Butler for those who have historically not been able to go is transformational. I want to make sure that all students—regardless of their race, gender identity or income—have that opportunity.”
To commemorate the couple’s support, Butler will dedicate the space for Founder’s College on the university campus as the Marianne Glick and Mike Woods Founder’s College Commons. It will be located with the university’s College of Education in a building at the intersection of West 42nd Street and Haughey Avenue.
The university said the couple’s gift will fund needed renovations to the space, along with operating support for Founder’s College.
Earlier this year, the college named Carolyn Gentle-Genitty as its inaugural dean. The hiring of additional faculty and staff for the college is underway.
Glick graduated from Butler with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1973 and a master’s degree in educational psychology in 1974. She is board chair of the Glick Family Foundation, a charitable initiative of Glick Philanthropies.
Woods’ father, Bob, attended Butler in the 1940s until he was forced to drop out to care for an ailing family member.
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Juat another example of the impact Marianne and the Glick family has had on educating, housing and employing people of color and marginalized individuals. Her father left a legacy of affordable housing when other developers ignored the needs of those without means. And now Marianne and Mike have continued the focus on leaving no one left behind. We build statues for athletes but the Glick family not only deserves a Peace Trail in their honor, but lets commision a statue honoring their contributions to an equitable society. Honor them….