The announcement of Ron Wanek’s $10 million gift to High Point University received extensive media coverage. Clickhereto view the stories.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 8, 2013 – High Point University is the recipient of a $10 million gift from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation. Ron Wanek started manufacturing furniture with only 35 employees in 1970. His company, Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., is now the largest furniture manufacturer in the world and the largest furniture retailer in the U.S. with headquarters in Wisconsin.
Ron Wanek, speaking on behalf of the Wanek Foundation, praised High Point University for its educational efforts in entrepreneurship, technology, business, and most importantly, the free enterprise system. Ron firmly believes colleges that accurately teach the fundamentals of the free enterprise system will be graduating our future leaders. “The educational emphasis on communication and leadership that is the focus of High Point University,” stated Wanek, “is providing essential skills to tomorrow’s leaders.”
Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point University, in expressing High Point University’s appreciation of this gift, stated: “The $10 million gift from the Waneks and their foundation is a wonderful example of philanthropy and outstanding citizenship. We are deeply grateful for their friendship and generosity.”
High Point University, which tripled its enrollment and quadrupled the size of its campus in the last seven years, has been the beneficiary of 10 gifts of $10 million or more each in the last six years. It is now in the planning stages of constructing state-of-the-art facilities for Health Sciences and Pharmacy, which will open in 2016.
