Saint Augustine’s Gets Boost with Fresh Donation Amid Finance Crisis

TL/DR –

Saint Augustine’s University alumni, including Franchestee Barner and her husband Dr. Honney Barner, are donating money to the university in an effort to help it financially. The couple are encouraging others to donate however much they can, even if it’s as little as one dollar, to help preserve the institution’s 157-year history. The university is currently facing difficulties like millions of dollars in debt, the lack of accreditation, and a shift to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saint Augustine’s University Alumni Pledge Financial Support Amid Financial Struggles

Following revelations about financial difficulties at Saint Augustine’s University (SAU), alumni are rallying with financial support. Shocked by the crisis, Franchestee Barner, a 1978 graduate, and her husband Dr. Honney Barner decided to donate $10,000, going beyond their usual annual contributions.

“We felt it was the right thing to do”, said Dr. Barner. Interestingly, Dr. Barner is not an SAU alumnus, but he has been a part of significant events at the institution and strongly supports it. They’re encouraging others to donate to this historic institution that has been around for 157 years.

“We want everyone to donate one dollar. We’d like you to put one dollar in an envelope and send it to the school”, Dr. Barner said. He argues that even small donations can have a big impact on saving the university.

Dr. Barner draws inspiration from biblical stories of miraculous abundance, saying, “There’s a guy in the Bible named Jesus and what he did was take five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands.”

The couple hopes this call to action will provide a much-needed boost for the university. “I see it flourishing and I see it fully coming back. I see a campus full of students happy and thriving”, said Franchestee Barner.

SAU currently faces challenges including its accreditation status, moving students to remote learning for the rest of this school year starting April 1, and significant debt.

The university has launched the Falcon Pride Initiative to raise funds to help get through these challenging times.

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