More than $48 million raised toward $75 million to construct the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA., USA (January 9, 2024) – Just over a year after officially launching its God-Sized Dreams campaign, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) will break ground on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. for the first of four construction projects under the campaign.
PBA has received more than $48 million in gifts through philanthropic support toward its $75 million goal to help construct the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall. The state-of-the-art facility will foster a dynamic learning environment, offering students unparalleled resources such as a stock trading room and the 300-plus-seat Titus Lecture Hall. The new facility will also serve as home to three of the university’s centers of excellence – the Titus Center for Franchising, the LeMieux Center for Public Policy, and the recently launched Center for Financial Literacy.
With the construction of the new business school, PBA will enhance its programs, capitalizing on its AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation for the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business, awarded in May 2023. This distinction places the institution in the top six percent of all business schools globally and one of only 10 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) schools with this accreditation.
Launched in November 2022, the God-Sized Dreams campaign at PBA is dedicated to advancing four transformative projects on the university’s West Palm Beach campus. Alongside the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, the campaign aims to secure funds to develop a cutting-edge health science complex, a state-of-the-art performing arts center, and an alumni and student welcome center. Various naming opportunities for these facilities are currently open, inviting individuals to contribute to the legacy of the campus.
PBA’s expansion comes as the West Palm Beach community continues to experience remarkable growth, garnering attention on a national scale as “Wall Street South.” The Business Development Board reports that approximately 100 corporations have migrated to Palm Beach County since 2019, including industry giants like Goldman Sachs, NewDay USA, Tremblant Capital, and GTCR.
“The God-Sized Dreams campaign represents more than just a fundraising initiative,” said Dr. Debra Schwinn, president of PBA. “It embodies our collective vision for the values-based education we offer as well as a support for the growth of our business community, producing professionals who have grown in wisdom, understand how to lead with conviction and serve God boldly. We are so grateful for all of our donors whose remarkable contributions have ensured that we are poised to fulfill our mission.”
At the forefront of the God-Sized Dream campaign are John and Sheila Rinker, whose contribution, the largest in the university’s history, demonstrates their unwavering commitment to the future of PBA and its students.
“I am thrilled to witness the realization of our God-Sized Dreams as we break ground on the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall,” said Board Chair Tom McCaffrey. “This transformative project is shaping not only the future of PBA but also the development of our community. As businesses relocate here, the demand for our graduates continues to grow.”
The groundbreaking for the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall is open to the community. Interested persons can RSCP here. To contribute to this transformative campaign and be a part of shaping the future PBA, please visit the campaign website.
###
About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The university is dedicated to the integration of biblical principles to prepare students for learning, leadership, and service. Learn more at www.pba.edu.
