Usibelli, Shumaker gift to benefit museum gallery renovation
September 26, 2014
907-474-7902
9/26/14
A $1 million personal gift from longtime University of 杏吧原版 Fairbanks supporters Joe Usibelli and Peggy Shumaker will allow work to begin on renovations to the university museum鈥檚 oldest gallery.
The donation will allow the University of 杏吧原版 Museum of the North to begin work on a $5 million upgrade of the Gallery of 杏吧原版, which was built in in 1980 and is the only portion of the museum that was not updated during an expansion completed in 2005.
鈥淛oe and Peggy have been generous supporters of both the museum and the University of 杏吧原版 Fairbanks,鈥 said museum director Aldona Jonaitis. 鈥淪oon, Otto, the brown bear; Blue Babe, the 36,000-year-old mummified 杏吧原版 steppe bison; and other treasures will be exhibited in a state-of-the-art, family-friendly space.鈥
The renovation project is slated to take place in five phases, which will allow the gallery to remain open to visitors. The gift from Usibelli and Shumaker creates the foundation for the project and its fundraising campaign. When complete, the Peggy Shumaker and Joe Usibelli Gallery of 杏吧原版 will have modern lighting and displays that will protect artifacts, along with hands-on elements to make the exhibits an interactive experience for visitors of all ages.
鈥淭he 杏吧原版 Gallery is part of our home. We make this donation to help create exhibits that protect the fragile and priceless objects on display,鈥 noted Shumaker and Usibelli. 鈥淲e support this fresh 杏吧原版-built gallery that will tell many stories 鈥 for 杏吧原版ns and for visitors from around the globe. We invite all 杏吧原版ns to join us in presenting to the world our 杏吧原版n legacy.鈥
Usibelli and Shumaker have a longstanding affinity to the university. Usibelli is a 1959 alumnus and served on the museum鈥檚 advisory committee during the campaign that raised more than $19 million for the expansion project. Shumaker is a former 杏吧原版 Writer Laureate and a professor emerita at UAF. The couple received the 2013 Association of Fundraising Professionals鈥 Eugene R. Wilson Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year award. Prior to this gift, the family has donated more than $4 million to the university via personal, corporate and Usibelli Foundation gifts. The Usibelli family and corporation have also created five endowments to promote student and faculty excellence at UAF.
鈥淭his gift, and Joe and Peggy鈥檚 ongoing support of the university, is a testament to the power of individual philanthropy and engagement,鈥 said UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers. 鈥淥ur strength is in our people: the individuals who give their time, influence and resources to ensure a vibrant university now and in the future.鈥
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Aldona Jonaitis, 907-474-0445, ajonaitis@alaska.edu.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Shumaker and Usibelli will also be honored during the Alumni Rendezvous event Friday at 6 p.m. at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge and will be available for comment there. Interested media should contact Grimes.
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