The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust is giving West Virginia University $3 million to promote and advance the University on a national stage, enhance the student experience and further initiatives important to the University president.
The Hazel Ruby McQuain Presidential Endowment will provide critically needed funds to the University president as he/she works to move the University from excellence to eminence.
“This is an incredible gift from an incredible founder and her charitable trust,” said WVU President Gordon Gee. “These funds will allow the University president to pursue opportunities that enhance the mission of our institution – whether it is recognizing faculty and staff achievements, supporting student outreach and scholarships, bringing renowned scholars and dignitaries to campus or other meaningful initiatives. I want to thank the Board of Trustees of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust for their confidence and for unwavering belief in West Virginia University.”
The gift agreement outlines specific ways the funds can be used, including recognizing and honoring faculty and staff for accomplishments and achievements related to their studies; bringing prominent national and international lecturers and visitors to campus; responding to unanticipated or emergency needs of the University for which traditional funding is not available; travel associated with representing and advancing the interests of WVU; hospitality reasonably necessary to further the interests of the University including development activities; costs associated with membership and/or attendance at conferences and meetings of associations and organizations important to the work of the University president, among other needs.
“This endowment gives a wonderful tool to the president by providing funding for areas he believes are needed to move WVU forward,” said Stephen B. Farmer, a member of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust Board of Trustees. “We are very supportive of President Gee’s leadership, passion and enthusiasm, and pleased to provide this gift to help him and future presidents bring WVU to new heights.”
Following the extraordinary example of its founder, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust is one of the University’s largest benefactors, having made donations to a wide variety of causes and programs across the University, including WVU Hospitals, School of Medicine, College of Law, WVU Alumni Association, Athletics, as well as the establishment of the cross-disciplinary Ruby Scholars Graduate Research Fellowships and endowing six chairs throughout the University.
Mrs. McQuain, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 93, also made an $8 million gift toward the construction of Ruby Memorial Hospital, which was named after her late husband, J.W. Ruby. She served as an 11-year member of the WVU Foundation board of directors.
In 2012, the West Virginia University Foundation recognized the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust by permanently naming one of its annual awards in the Trust’s honor. Established in 2005, the Foundation’s outstanding philanthropic foundation award is now known as the Hazel Ruby McQuain Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award.
The gift was made in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $1 billion comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2017.
