Christine E. Lynn donates $5 million toward proposed athletic complex
Gift from former nurse and philanthropist announced in ceremony Tuesday
Junior beach volleyball player Beth Shoaff, University President John Kelly, Christine E. Lynn, Dick Schmidt, Barbara Schmidt and Head Athletic Director Patrick Chun stand with a gift from athletics thanking Lynn for her Donation. Ryan Lynch | Sports Editor
November 3, 2015
Christine E. Lynn announced her donation of $5 million to name the medical center inside the proposed Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence Tuesday.
“I’m delighted to make this gift in honor of my friends, Dick and Barbara Schmidt, who have done so much for our community and have committed to a state-of-the-art facility, the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence, here at FAU,” Lynn said.
The complex had previously received funding from the Schmidt family, who gave $16 million last December. FAU benefactor Eleanor R. Baldwin also gave a $1 million gift last October.
“Fortunately for us about 11 months ago, the Schmidts came forward and made a lead gift of $16 million to start the fundraising portion of the project,” Head Athletic Director Patrick Chun said. “Christine’s a dear friend of them. Thankfully for us she wanted to get involved with the project.”
The complex now has $22 million of the estimated $40-50 million needed to begin construction.
A date for the beginning of the complex’s construction has not been announced, but it will be located between parking garage three and the FAU Stadium.
It is expected to include medical facilities, an indoor practice field and a student-athlete academic and leadership center, among other amenities.
Lynn’s previous donations to the school include a $10 million grant to fund and name the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing in 2001.
Ryan Lynch is the sports editor of the University Press. For tips regarding this or other articles, he can be contacted at [email protected] or on Twitter.
