Marquette receives a $1.5 million gift to fund College of Health Sciences research and future expansion of the Athletic and Human Performance Research Center

Bob and Kim Eck, an alumni couple, have made a $1.5 million gift to Marquette University through the Eck Family Foundation that will impact two areas of campus, President Michael R. Lovell said today. The gift will provide seed capital and focus on highly innovative projects within the College of Health Sciences aimed at applying new technologies, new therapies and research to address substance use disorders.

In addition, a portion of the gift will support a new men’s basketball practice facility in a future expansion of the Athletic and Human Performance Research Center. Bob, who served as chairman of Marquette’s Board of Trustees from 2020 to 2023, graduated in 1980; Kim completed her studies in 2013.

“Like so many families, ours have felt the impact of addiction and the difficulty of finding effective treatment,” said Bob and Kim Eck. “Finding funding for early-stage research can be challenging. Our hope is that our gift will lead to progress in developing new treatments that can free so many people from suffering.”

Encouraging holistic well-being

President Lovell shared details of the university’s new strategic plan, Guided by mission, inspired for change, during his recent presidential address. He emphasized that the Eck gift would also take a step toward growing a campus of “thriving students” as Marquette strives to be a nationally recognized leader in the integration of student well-being, transformation and success.

“We are grateful for this remarkable, mission-focused gift from the Eck family. Their generosity will have a major impact on a pressing social issue,” said President Lovell. “This gift will further our progress as a research university known for excellence and innovation – a key theme in our new strategic plan – and take our Athletic and Human Performance Research Center to the next level.”

The Eck family has contributed to progress in wellness on campus in recent years. In September 2022, Bob Eck announced the university’s plans to honor President Lovell and First Lady Amy Lovell at the university’s planned wellness tower in the newly renovated Wellness + Helfaer Recreation facility in recognition of their “tremendous leadership to advance mental health in Milwaukee and the region. .” Within four months, the university raised $5 million in honor of the Lovells.

Convert seed money into large subsidies

Philanthropic seed funding like the Ecks’ often helps researchers advance scientific progress in ways they can then leverage for larger grants from the National Institutes of Health or other funding sources. A portion of the Ecks’ gift will go toward developing a network of collaborating scientists within the College of Health Sciences’ Integrative Neuroscience Research Center, including neuroscientists, physicians and pharmaceutical experts focusing on cognitive, emotional and motivational areas of the brain to understand and address them. depression, neuropsychiatric disorders, addiction, spinal cord research and body weight regulation.

“We have made a very deliberate investment spanning more than a decade to grow our world-class scientists in the critical areas of neuroscience,” said Dr. William E. Cullinan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “We sincerely appreciate this gift from the Eck family, which will accelerate our research efforts. Ultimately, our vision is to take the discoveries back to our labs and translate them into breakthroughs for families looking for solutions.”

The momentum of the campaign continues

Marquette is historic Time to get up The fundraising campaign is the most ambitious in the university’s 143-year history. In February, President Lovell announced that the university had surpassed its $750 million goal and challenged the Marquette community to strive for completion of the campaign by June 2024.

“We are fortunate to have had two philanthropic leaders throughout our history: Bob and Kim Time to get up campaign,” said Vice President for University Advancement Tim McMahon. “This latest gift reflects their values ​​and beliefs, both in the way we pursue scientific discoveries to treat addiction and in the way we work to improve the home for our flagship men’s basketball program.”

The Eck family will dedicate a portion of their gift to a future project to expand the university’s Athletic and University Human Performance Research Center, which will include a new practice facility for the men’s basketball program and academic resources for student-athletes. In January, President Lovell announced that Dwyane Wade, Marquette alumnus and NBA Hall of Famer, had made a donation to the project while contributing to literacy and scholarship efforts.

The expansion will free up heavily used space in the Al McGuire Center for the women’s basketball and volleyball programs, and increase teaching, advising and study space for all student-athletes. The first phase of the AHPRC opened in 2019. As the university community continues to build momentum Time to get up campaign, donors have expressed philanthropic interest in supporting the second phase of the AHPRC. The facility is still in the fundraising and development phase.