Glen Taylor offers up to $500,000 to help hurricane-affected students attend two MnSCU institutions

Posted: September 14, 2005

Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426

Gift from Timberwolves' owner targets Minnesota State University, Mankato, and South Central College

Moved by the plight of hurricane-stricken college students, Minnesota Timberwolves majority owner and business executive Glen Taylor is committing up to $500,000 to help these students attend Minnesota State University, Mankato, or South Central College.

"Education has been very important in my own life, and I think it's important to help college students affected by this terrible storm continue their education while their home institutions recover," Taylor said.

Taylor is chairman of Mankato-based Taylor Corporation and an alumnus of Minnesota State University, Mankato, one of the 32 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

The donation will defray expenses for about 100 students at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and South Central College, a combined community and technical college with campuses in Faribault and North Mankato.

Students are eligible if they were enrolled in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama institutions whose campuses were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Taylor is directing his gift to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, which helps raise money for students across the state. The Taylor Relief Fund will be part of the foundation's new Katrina Student Relief Fund, established to accept contributions for affected students who enroll in one of the system's 32 institutions.

Last week, system Chancellor James H. McCormick announced that the state colleges and universities could make room for at least 300 displaced college students.

The Board of Trustees is expected to consider a proposal next Wednesday to grant in-state tuition rates to students eligible for assistance under this program.

"Glen Taylor has given exceptional support to our system and especially our Mankato institutions. I believe Minnesota is blessed with many generous-hearted people like him who value education and want to help," McCormick said.

Taylor said he encourages other business people to support the effort to assist displaced college students. "This is a great opportunity to demonstrate Minnesota's commitment to education," he said.

Richard Davenport, president of Minnesota State University, Mankato, said, "Glen Taylor has been a wonderful friend and benefactor to Minnesota State University, Mankato, and to the entire state. In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Glen Taylor, the Taylor Corporation and the Taylor Family Foundation have answered the call again."

Keith Stover, president of South Central College, said that the college is grateful for Glen Taylor's commitment to education and that his faculty, staff and students look forward to welcoming students affected by the hurricane.

"As a comprehensive two-year college, South Central College can offer both academic and technical majors that provide some exceptional educational options to these displaced students," Stover said.

For students who are not able to come to Minnesota, the system offers about 100 online programs and more than 1,000 classes, which can be taken via the Internet.

Taylor Relief Fund fact sheet (pdf)

Glen Taylor biography