The Wayne State University School of Medicine has been awarded a $3 million grant from The Kresge Foundation to support construction of the Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons.

The grant, offered on a challenge basis, is designed to help the medical school raise an additional $20 million required to complete funding for the project by July 1, 2007. To date, $61 million has been raised toward the overall goal of $81 million for capital, endowment, and program funds.

“The Kresge Foundation has offered a strong vote of confidence to our School of Medicine and the university through its generous grant,” said Wayne State University President Irvin D. Reid. “The Medical Education Commons will play a significant role in the training of tomorrow’s physicians while increasing our ability to serve the medical community and the people of Michigan.”

The 34,000-square-foot, two-story building and complex will be the nucleus of all programs for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education in the School of Medicine. Students will have “one-stop shopping” for all administrative, support and learning services.

Community residents will benefit from other resources available through the Commons such as educational programs, health information services and the commitment of Wayne State medical students to services for those in need.

"The Richard J. Mazurek, M.D., Medical Education Commons will provide a much-needed academic center for students, faculty, alumni and the community,” said Robert M. Mentzer, Jr., M.D., dean of Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. “It will house world-class programs and technologies that will educate and inspire the next generation of physicians. This challenge by The Kresge Foundation shows a great deal of confidence in the School of Medicine\'s fundraising capabilities. The Foundation’s generosity will encourage enthusiastic support from our constituents and lead to a successful capital campaign.”

The Kresge Foundation is a national foundation with $3 billion in assets. Through its grant making programs, The Kresge Foundation seeks to strengthen nonprofit organizations by catalyzing their growth, connecting them to their stakeholders, and challenging greater support through grants. The Foundation’s core grant making activity is its Capital Challenge Grants program. In this program, the Foundation focuses on opportunities to strengthen leadership and giving through challenge grants for capital projects. Projects supported include the construction and renovation of facilities, acquisition of property, and purchase of equipment. Grant recipients have raised initial funds toward their respective projects before requesting Foundation support. Kresge grants are then made on a challenge basis, requesting the raising of the remaining balance, by a deadline.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.