Institute encourages gifts to the Live Learning Center through April 29

As The Hormel Institute nears completion on its new Live Learning Center, it’s making a final push for campaign contributions for the state-of-the-art communications and education center continues.

The $4.5 million project has received tremendous support with donations still being accepted through this week.

Less than $200,000 is left to raise for the $4.5 million project. Every tax-deductible gift of $500 and more (received by April 29) will be recognized on a new, beautiful donor wall in the Live Learning Center.

The donor wall will be featured inside the multifunction room in front of the entrance to the auditorium. The wall will include donor names or memorial statements and feature research cell images in the background.

Donors who gift $1,000 or more to the Live Learning Center will be invited to the June 1 Grand Opening and the historic reception for its first international cancer conference, the seventh China-U.S. Forum on Frontiers of Cancer Research symposium.

Support for the Live Learning Center campaign has been continuous throughout the center’s construction. The Hormel Foundation committed $1.5 million to the Live Learning Center as part of its $23 million commitment to The Hormel Institute’s 2014-16 expansion. This funding is in addition to the Foundation’s major financial support given annually for the Institute’s operations.

The University of Minnesota also provided $1.5 million toward the Live Learning Center to enhance global scientific collaborations and accelerate cancer research. In addition, The Hormel Institute has received support from individuals, businesses, corporations and organizations from throughout the community and region.

Dr. Zigang Dong, Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, is grateful to all who have supported the campaign.

“The Live Learning Center is vitally needed for our growing Institute. It will be a place where information and knowledge about cancer research discoveries will be shared and furthered,” Dong said. “Cancer discoveries will be accelerated through the new Live Learning Center and the collaborative platform it provides.”

The Live Learning Center — part of The Hormel Institute’s International Center of Research Technology created in 2008 — will serve as a place for the Institute’s cancer researchers to meet and learn in a more ideal setting. A 250-seat lecture hall with theater-style seating and state-of-the-art technology will greatly ease the process of collaborating and presenting research to other scientists around the world without having to spend the money and take the time to travel. It will also enable the Institute to reach larger audiences.

The Live Learning Center will also include a multifunction room to be used for various events, including poster sessions by scientists during research conferences. A wall in the room will feature a new mural highlighting the history of cancer prevention research.

Additionally, the Live Learning Center will be used to support collaborators in the community and region.

Tax-deductible gifts can be made to “The Hormel Institute” in support of the Live Learning Center and a receipt will be provided for the charitable tax gift. Donation cards are available at The Hormel Institute and The Hormel Foundation. Gifts of $1,000 or more will be invited to the June 1 Grand Opening and historic reception for its first international cancer conference.

Donations can be sent to The Hormel Institute, 801 16th Ave. NE, Austin, MN, 55912. For more information, call 507-437-9604.