SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Sunderland Foundation in Overland Park, Kansas, recently awarded a grant of $300,000 to support Evangel University’s Sustainability Renovation Project.
A 2018 energy audit by Evangel, in partnership with Energy Solutions Professionals (ESP), identified areas on campus where they could realize remarkable reductions in energy usage and water waste.
“Thanks to the Sunderland grant money, we were able to complete several projects this summer, and we are already experiencing significant savings,” said Brian Hauff, director of facilities.
Evangel upgraded approximately 800 lighting units to LED in Walther Hall and Scott Hall, two of the six resident halls on the North Glenstone Ave. campus. Workers also upgraded the plumbing fixtures for water conservation in all 91 bathrooms in Lewis Hall.
In addition, the Kendrick Library was the first permanent building constructed by Evangel, and it benefited this summer from upgrades to both LED lighting and more efficient plumbing fixtures.
Energy savings of $26,602 annually are projected from these Sunderland-funded improvements, according to Hauff.
Dr. Carol Taylor, president of Evangel, credited the Sunderland grantors with capturing the vision for the difference this work will make, both in efficiency and in campus value.
“Evangel University is committed to practicing good stewardship in our energy consumption,” said Dr. Taylor. “We join the community in expressing our appreciation to the Sunderland Foundation for the valuable contribution this grant has made to the cause of promoting long-term sustainability.”
Long-range goals
Hauff stressed that these summer projects at Evangel University are a great start.
“When the Sustainability Renovation Project is completed, 18 of Evangel’s buildings will be impacted, and emissions will be reduced by an amount equal to the electricity usage of 403 homes each year,” he said.
Fundraising for the project is ongoing. For more information, contact Dr. Michael Kolstad at kolstadm@evangel.edu or (417) 865-2811, ext. 7291.
The Sunderland Foundation – local roots
Since its inception in 1945, the Sunderland Foundation has focused on supporting construction projects — grants for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered.
Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and energy efficient affordable housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations.
Grants awarded by the Sunderland Foundation in 2018 totaled more than $105.6 million.
Assets of the foundation have been contributed by Lester T. Sunderland and his two sons, Paul Sunderland and Allen B. Sunderland.
These assets were comprised primarily of shareholdings of the Ash Grove Cement Company, founded in Ash Grove, Missouri. The company was the fifth largest manufacturer of Portland Cement in the United States at the time it was acquired by CRH plc of Dublin, Ireland, in 2018.
About Evangel
Evangel University, with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the church and society globally. Evangel and AGTS serve more than 2,100 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 70 undergraduate majors and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.
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