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Fresno Pacific University received a matching gift of $1.5 million from Al and Dotty Warkentine — along with a challenge to raise $3 million for the university. 

Community members have until June 30 to match the $1.5 million gift that is the latest example of the family’s longtime support for the university.  

“It is a pleasure to witness firsthand donors’ unwavering dedication to FPU,” said André Stephens, university president, in a news release. “Their commitment enables us to cultivate an environment where students can flourish and grow in their academic pursuits and faith journeys.”

Any contribution—excluding capital and endowment donations—qualifies for the gifting match. People can contribute online at fpu.edu/give.

A retired dentist and avid investor, Al Warkentine was a member of the school’s first board of trustees from 1971-85. Dotty is a former professional harpist who has taught students and played in many FPU ensembles as part of her career.

The Warkentines previously made a major donation to the Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, which broke ground in 2020. The new $15 million center, which is on the FPU campus, opened its doors in 2022.  The Warkentines call FPU their mission field. 

“People’s lives are changed,” Al said in a press release. “I talked to one faculty member recently who said the wonderful thing about teaching at Fresno Pacific is the family feeling they had with the faculty and staff. That’s important.”.

Gifts to the matching fund go toward changing the lives of the nearly 3,000 FPU students earning their bachelor’s, master’s, and seminary degrees at campuses in Fresno, Visalia, Merced, and Bakersfield, as well as online.

“It’s to try to shake people loose. One thing we’ve always said is that the first time we gave $10,000, it was hard to do, the first time we gave $100,000, it was difficult…but the more you do that, the easier it gets,” Al said.

According to Liz Garvin, vice president for advancement and executive director of the FPU Foundation, the energy around the giving opportunity is palpable. She said the Warkentines’ generosity demonstrates their belief in FPU’s mission and their desire to share that mission with others.

“With their pledge to match dollar for dollar up to $1.5 million, we are one step closer to changing students’ lives,” Garvin said.