William Penn University is pleased to announce a lead gift of $70,000 in cash and pledges from the Green family to establish a fund to expand McGrew Fine Arts Center.

The cost of the expansion to McGrew will be approximately $350,000. The entire $350,000 must be pledged or raised before the project can begin. The Green family’s donation is led by current and former William Penn board of trustees members.

The family has held a close connection with William Penn University for many years. Nine members of the family are graduates, 13 are former students and one was an employee. There have been 11 family members serving on William Penn’s board of trustees with a total of 134 years of service.

The Green family’s history begins with Israel Chew Green, who was one of the founders of Penn College in 1873 and served as the first president of the board of trustees from 1873 – 1878. He then served as the business manager from 1874 – 1875. His nephew, Levi Robert Green, joined the board of trustees in 1924 where he remained until 1947. Levi’s son, Vern C. Parsons was a 1924 graduate of Penn and married Hester Green Parsons, a 1925 Penn graduate. Vern was a member of the board of trustees from 1949 – 1976 and served as the president of the board of trustees from 1957 – 1963. Levi Robert Green’s daughter, Frances Green Norman, was a member of the board of trustees from 1967 – 1986 and a former student at Penn. Others who have served on Penn’s board of trustees from the Green family are: John “Jack” Lundy; Levi Mahlon Willits, married to 1964 Penn alumna Ramona Lea Coffman Willits; Frances Parsons Martin, a 1949 Penn graduate married to Neil H. Martin, a former student; Donna Parsons Williams, a 1949 alumna married to former student Arthur L. Williams; and Randall C. Nichols, a 1976 alumnus who also served as college relations senior officer from 1982 - 1987. Currently, Reginald Martin and Dr. Eric Nichols serve on William Penn’s board of trustees.

Four members of the Green family have been recognized with William Penn’s distinguished service award: Vern C. Parsons, Frances Green Norman, Levi Mahlon Willits and Donna Parsons Williams. Receiving the torch award, which honors generations of family members attending Penn, were Hester Green Parsons and Charles W. and Ann Lee Norman Nichols. The family is also known for the dedication of the Kawai grand piano in Lewis Hall given by Clarence and Francis Green Norman in 1987, and the dedication of the Green Family Lounge in Lewis Hall in 1995.

“There are several individuals within our family who believe that it is an important time for the Green family to come together in the life of William Penn University and to again show our support. The fine arts have been and continue to be an area that has been an important part of many of our lives throughout our extended family. We have the opportunity to step forward and make a real impact with a combined lead gift from the Green family towards an addition to the McGrew Fine Arts Center,” Nichols and Martin said in a letter to family members.

The Green family is continuing to solicit donations within the family, and the university will be contacting William Penn graduates of the fine arts program to share this exciting information and ask for donations to reach the goal of $350,000.

“On behalf of William Penn University, the Advancement Office wishes to express appreciation and gratitude to the Green family. We are looking forward to this new chapter in the university’s history,” said Vice President for Advancement Steven C. Noah.