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published on September 24, 2019 - 4:58 PM
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Fresno State has received its largest-ever commitment for a student-life project — $10 million — that will go toward its planned new student union.

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, owners of The Wonderful Company farming and food processing empire, gave the gift to help support design, construction, operation and maintenance of the new building, which will be known as the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union.

“Stewart and I have long supported Fresno State’s mission of shaping the Central Valley’s best and brightest young minds, while serving as a significant pipeline of talent for businesses throughout the region,” said Lynda Resnick, vice chair and co-owner of The Wonderful Company. “Our hope is that this beautiful new facility will empower student success well into the future.”

The Resnicks have been stalwart supporters of education dating back to 1994, when they established Wonderful Education, with a mission to significantly increase the number of college degree-earning students in the Central Valley.

With a cradle-to-career focus, Wonderful Education operates three preschools, two public charter schools, an agriculture-focused early college pathway and has awarded classroom grants across 165 schools and 2,350 college scholarships.

A portion of the Resnicks’ investment will be used to create The Wonderful Scholar Center within the new student union, a dedicated space where more than 200 Wonderful Scholars scholarship recipients attending Fresno State will receive tutoring and counseling from their college-success specialists.

“We are deeply grateful for Lynda and Stewart’s bold and impactful investment in Fresno State’s talented and diverse students,” said President Joseph I. Castro. “Their generous support for public higher education underscores the importance of private philanthropy and universities joining together to elevate our region and beyond.”

The 84,000-square-foot Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union will include dynamic and interchangeable meeting spaces, dedicated spaces for student organizations and an outdoor terrace that can be used year-round. The $60 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2021, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for later this autumn. The existing University Student Union will continue to provide key programs and services that will complement the new facility.

Several other naming gifts have been secured to support various spaces in the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union:

— The Leon S. Peters Foundation is giving $1 million in support of the Leon S. Peters Outdoor Event Plaza.

— The Honorable Marvin and Jane Baxter are giving $250,000 in support of the Justice Marvin and Jane Baxter ASI Executive Suite.

— Ryan and Ashley Jacobsen are giving $25,000 in support of the Ryan and Ashley Jacobsen Associated Students, Inc. President’s Office.

Additional gifts large and small are still needed. Those interested in investing in the facility can contact David Hembree at dhembree@csufresno.edu or Richard Verducci at richardverducci@mail.fresnostate.edu.


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