Biola announces largest campaign in history
Biola publicly launched their $180 million “A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage: The Campaign for Biola University” at donor gala.
May 12, 2015
With a goal to raise $180 million before Dec. 2016, Biola raised $3.9 million in one evening alone.
Biola’s Largest Donation
Biola received its largest donation of $12 million from Alton Lim of Long Beach for whom the new Center for Science, Technology and Health will be named after. The 91,200-square-foot building’s construction will begin in Feb. 2016 and is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2018. | Marika Adamopoulos/THE CHIMES
After raising $152 million as of May 9, Biola publicly launched “A Soul of Conviction, A Voice of Courage: The Campaign for Biola University” at the Conviction and Courage black-tie gala for donors located below the “Jesus Saves” sign in downtown Los Angeles.
Additionally, Biola received its largest donation of $12 million from Alton Lim of Long Beach for whom the new Center for Science, Technology and Health will be named after. The 91,200-square-foot building’s construction will begin in Feb. 2016 and is tentatively scheduled to open in spring 2018.
“We aspire to be a university that holds high God’s word and all that we are and all that we do,” said President Barry Corey. “We aspire to be a university that lovingly serves the world winsomely, attractively, fragrantly as we prepare our students courageously to take on the major challenges of our day.”
The Ace Hotel
Phil Wickham’s performance was an incredible way to cap off a historic evening for Biola University. | Marika Adamopoulos/THE CHIMES
The decision to host the gala and concert at the Ace Hotel goes beyond the location’s close proximity to where Biola was founded in 1908, but rather the connection with the hotel. The Ace Hotel currently serves as the location of one of Biola’s original “Jesus Saves” signs where it continues to shine every night in Downtown Los Angeles. Psalm 119:89 is also inscribed in the doorway of the theater at the Ace Hotel, which are the same words that were displayed on the entrance to the original unversity location on Hope and Sixth St.
“We are not at the Ace Hotel just because it is a hip, trendy, skinny-jean hotel here in this nouveau, chic part of Los Angeles, and we are not even here just because we are four or so blocks down the road from where Biola began 107 years ago,” Corey said. “We chose the Ace because this building has two direct ties to the original Biola building that make it especially fitting for tonight’s celebration.”
The Night’s Events
John Aguilar, A.K.A DJ Kat Scratch, fueled the student after party with some hip music. | Marika Adamopoulos/THE CHIMES
Students and alumni enjoyed music from Josh Garrels and The Brilliance while the gala was taking place. Donors then joined students and alumni in the Ace Hotel theater to worship together with Phil Wickham.
“Phil Wickham live is so amazing and just being able to worship under him live like that was such a great experience,” said Susan Miranda, sophomore biological sciences major.
Science majors expressed their excitement regarding the new science building and the donations received.
“As a science major, I can’t wait for the new science buildings, so it was just a great way to have the students involved in the fundraising,” said Cameron Peck, freshman physics major.
Non-science majors shared in the excitement of the new building with appreciation to the donors.
“I am not a science major so I really can’t appreciate where it’s going as much as the science majors can but I definitely am supportive of the fact that all of those people were here to support us college students,” said Alexandra Forest, freshman communications major.
The night ended with a student-only afterparty located behind the hotel, in the same venue as the gala, where students enjoyed food, drinks and Mitchell Canyon Coffee.
