Tim and Gail Buchanan have committed a $1.2 million gift to the Friends University Division of Fine Arts. The first $1 million is contributed to establish the Tim and Gail Buchanan Chair in Fine Arts. The remaining $200,000 is dedicated for fine arts scholarships and is pledged to be paid $100,000 in 2017 and $100,000 in 2018. With the addition of this gift, Friends University has now raised more than $4.4 million in the past 18 months to support the annual fund, annual scholarships and facility projects.
The Tim and Gail Buchanan Chair endowment is set up to accomplish two important goals: 1) to provide salary support to attract and retain a top-notch division chair for the fine arts program at Friends University, and 2) to provide discretionary funds for the use of the fine arts division at the chair’s discretion.
The Tim and Gail Buchanan Chair in Fine Arts will be the first funded endowed chair in the history of Friends University and is given in appreciation of the tremendous dedication and work of Dr. Cecil Riney. Dr. Riney served Friends University for 45 years as the chair of Fine Arts and is currently filling the position of interim chair of Fine Arts.
In the past year, Friends university has hosted numerous guest jazz musicians, choreographers and dancers, conductors, graphic designers and many other locally and nationally-known artists. Through master classes, musicals, theatre and dance productions, jazz concerts, recording studios, and performing at off-campus venues, Friends students gain the experience needed to perform and teach in the professional world.
“The Tim and Gail Buchanan Endowed Chair will advance the excellence of the Friends University Division of Fine Arts,” said Dr. Amy Bragg Carey, president. “It will ensure that Friends students will continue to benefit from a superior educational experience offered in a Christian environment.”
Meredith Gail Buchanan graduated from Friends University in 1980 with a bachelor of music degree in music education. Tim Buchanan is the CEO of Legend Senior Living – a privately held Seniors Housing and Services company with 35 residences representing more than 2,380 units of Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Nursing Residences.
Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.