ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 27, 2009
ELCA University Receives $3 Million Gift For Solmaz Institute
09-237-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Solmaz Institute for Obesity will work to
prevent and treat childhood obesity in the Catawba Valley region of North
Carolina. That work will be made possible by a $3 million gift to Lenoir-
Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C. from Gungor and Diana Solmaz of Denver,
N.C.
Lenoir-Rhyne is one of 28 colleges and universities of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The gift and plans to
create the institute were announced at an Oct. 21 news conference on the
campus.
The donation is equal to the largest gift Lenoir-Rhyne had ever
received in support of an academic program, which was an endowment gift
of $3 million from Thomas W. Reese to establish the Reese Institute for
Conservation of Natural Resources.
In pursuit of treating and preventing childhood obesity, the Solmaz
Institute will create an internship program for students seeking to
become registered dieticians. The Dietetics Program will begin with the
fall semester of 2010. Students will be selected for this program through
a national computer-based system regulated by the American Dietetics
Association.
"This exciting gift from Gungor and Diana Solmaz allows Lenoir-Rhyne
to provide a major wellness service to this community," Dr. Wayne Powell,
president, Lenoir-Rhyne University, said in a news release. "When Lenoir-
Rhyne moved to university status a little over a year ago, we made a
commitment to this community to provide unparalleled services. The
partnership we have engaged with the Solmaz family is making it possible
for us to fulfill this vision," he said.
The institute will work with local school systems and area social
service agencies to assist children and their families, according to the
university release. It will also involve Lenoir-Rhyne faculty and
students in the existing programs of Athletic Training, Nursing,
Occupational Therapy, and Health and Exercise Science.
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The home page for Lenoir-Rhyne University is at http://www.lr.edu/
on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
