Ashland University received a $75,000 gift from Sutton Bank as part of the “Compassion, Community, Commitment. Building a Healthy Tomorrow” campaign for the University’s Dwight Schar College of Nursing facility.

John Augenstein, president of Ashland’s Sutton Bank, presented Ashland University President Dr. Fred Finks with the gift on Feb. 22.

“Sutton Bank has been a strong supporter of Ashland University for many years. This gift came at a critical juncture in our fundraising efforts towards a challenge match of $1.5 million from Dwight Schar,” Finks said. “We were able to meet that challenge through gifts from individuals and corporations like Sutton Bank.”

The money from Sutton Bank will be used toward construction costs for the new 46,000-sqaure-foot facility located on the University’s Balgreen Campus and the corner of Marion Avenue and Trimble Road in Mansfield.

The facility includes numerous clinical laboratories stored within the Simulation Center, including a Family Health lab, Adult Health lab, Complex health lab, Health Foundations lab, ICU/ CCU/ NICU, Community Health Home Care lab, Advanced Care lab and four patient examination labs.

Classrooms, offices and lounge areas are also in the building.

The initial campaign goal was $12 million, until revised plans and construction costs raised the total to $15.5 million.

A combination of donations from Dwight Schar, the Health Resources and Services Administration, Medical Mutual and the citizens of Richland County were involved in fundraising efforts.

“Several Foundations were also instrumental in helping us reach our goal,” Finks said. “Some of these included The Ashland Country Foundation, The Richland County Foundation, The Conard Foundation, the Lippitt Foundation, The Hire Family Foundation, The Landers Foundation and The Key Bank Foundation.”

“For any campaign to be successful it takes leadership from the top, a committed Board of Trustees, a strong development team and a solid group of volunteers,” Finks said.