News and Progress
The most generous donor in MU history
Donald W. Reynolds Foundation commits an additional $15 million
Aug. 25, 2009
Chancellor Brady Deaton told MU students, faculty and staff about an additional $15 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation at an event in the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI). "The legacy of a man who got his start selling newspapers on the streets of Oklahoma City is transforming the way journalism serves society," Deaton said. Photo by Nic Benner
A $15 million donation to MU's Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) announced by Chancellor Brady Deaton Aug. 25 makes the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation the most generous donor in University of Missouri history. The Foundation has committed more than $60 million to MU since 1987. Watch video of the announcement of the gift.
The majority of the foundation's gifts have supported the Missouri School of Journalism. The largest gift from the Reynolds Foundation - $31 million in 2004 - founded the RJI.
"RJI is poised to be one of the leaders in defining what form journalism will take in the 21st century and beyond," says Fred W. Smith, chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. "Our original grant allowed the University of Missouri to provide a state-of-the-art physical home and establish the programs of the institute. This latest commitment will assure operation of the programs under the leadership of Dean Mills and Pam Johnson for another five years."
The institute, a 50,000-square-foot facility attached to the J-School, includes technologies that allow MU students and researchers to test, demonstrate and use the latest hardware and software for journalism and advertising. The institute has launched more than 80 journalism projects since its inception.
KOMU-TV weathercaster Mike Rawlins and video producer Travis McMillen work the kinks out of new editing software in the video control room on the RJI ground floor. Photo by Nic Benner
"This gift from the Reynolds Foundation makes it possible for us to pursue our dream of an institute that supports democracies around the world by developing and testing 21st-century models and technologies of journalism to serve civil society," says MU Chancellor Brady Deaton. "In its first year of full operation, RJI has shown its potential for restoring the connection between citizens and journalists that is essential to political, economic and personal freedoms."
In addition to funds for RJI, the foundation gave MU $9.5 million in 1989, the largest gift to the university at that time, for construction of the Donald W. Reynolds Alumni Center. More recently, the foundation also gave $2 million for a chair in business journalism in Dec. 2008, and has given multiple smaller gifts in support of the university and the journalism program.
The late Donald W. Reynolds, BJ '27, bought his first business enterprise, a photo engraving plant with $1,000 in capital, part of which he borrowed. He used profits from the business to buy his first newspaper, and went on to buy other papers. Thus, the Donrey Media Group was born. He ultimately owned more than 100 businesses in the newspaper, radio, television, cable TV and outdoor advertising industries. As his success grew, Reynolds gave back to the communities where his businesses were located, and to Mizzou. He created the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in 1954 to manage his charitable giving.