Fresno State receives largest single cash gift in its history

FRESNO
April 23, 2009 12:39pm

A $29,442,516 million cash gift has been made to the Fresno State College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – the single largest cash gift ever received by the university or in the California State University system.

The gift is on behalf of the Jordan family: the late Hanabul “Bud” Jordan; his wife Dee; and his brother Lowell.

The family is from the East Bay, where Bud Jordan owned and operated a construction business headquartered in Hayward and where Lowell lived on the family ranch in Dublin, tending to the family’s cattle.

Bud Jordan died April 29, 2002, at the age of 83 and Lowell Jordan died in July 2005 at the age of 81. Dee Jordan still lives in Hayward.

The Jordan family gift is to be used for research and facilities for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (CAST). Fresno State President John Welty will consult with the campus Academic Senate Executive Committee and then ask the California State University Board of Trustees to name the college the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at the trustees’ meeting May 12-13.

The Jordan family began supporting CAST through the Ag One Foundation in 1995. Bob Glim, professor emeritus of agricultural economics and an adviser to the Ag One board worked at Fresno State from 1948 to 1978. He and his wife Dorothy first met Bud and Dee Jordan at a GMC motor home rally.

The Glims organized one of the rally get-togethers and gave a talk about Fresno State’s ag program and the Ag One Foundation. He shared some products grown on the Fresno State farm. The Jordans were at this meeting and subsequently began supporting scholarships for ag students even though they had never visited the campus. Their first gift was a $20,000 check to Ag One given to Mr. Glim at a rally.

This initial gift and subsequent gifts fund the Ag One – Lowell A. Jordan and Jordan Family Endowment. Over the years, the Jordan family contributed $130,000 to this endowment which supports six to seven deserving students each year with scholarships of $1,000.

Mr. Welty says the latest Jordan gift will play a major role in further strengthening the agricultural program at the university.

“This incredible gift will fund projects that the college had only just dreamed of,” he says. “It’s a rare and wonderful opportunity to make a profound impact on the college. We know we have outstanding, world-class agriculture programs. This gift will definitely establish Fresno State as the university of choice for top agriculture students.”

And Mr. Welty says the gift is testament to the power of relationships. “Although the Jordans didn’t live in our region, they connected to the university through our people,” says Mr. Welty. “The Jordans believed in what Fresno State was accomplishing and this generous gift assures that we will continue to advance.”

Since Bud Jordan’s passing, his wife Dee has visited the campus numerous times. Mrs. Jordan has met several Jordan scholars, toured campus agriculture facilities and attended Ag One and Fresno State athletic events.