Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Kilcawley Center renovation campaign received a $5 million boost courtesy of the Youngstown Foundation, Youngstown State University announced Thursday.

A longtime backer of the university, the foundation has supported its scholarship programs, the Williamson School of Business building, WYSU and other campus initiatives. Its $5 million contribution places the foundation in YSU’s Penguin Pinnacle, which is the university’s highest recognition for giving societies.

“We believe that the revitalized Kilcawley Center will address a basic need that every student and visitor to the campus has, a welcoming and easily accessible place to think, share, plan and dream,” foundation President Lynnette Forde said.

The Kilcawley: Centered on the Future Campaign is an initiative designed to transform and modernize the facility, which serves as the heart of YSU student life. The renovation will provide flexible, collaborative spaces that promote innovation, creativity and community-building. It is a critical investment in the future of YSU students, ensuring that Kilcawley remains a vibrant and essential space for generations to come.

“This exceptional gift from The Youngstown Foundation highlights the incredible partnership between YSU and the community,” YSU President Bill Johnson said. “The foundation’s unwavering commitment to our students and to the future of this university is a testament to the remarkable progress we’ve made at YSU.”