WOBURN, MA – The philanthropic arm of Woburn-based Cummings Properties has committed $20 million to Endicott College to expand and enhance its School of Nursing. This commitment is the largest in the Beverly college’s history.
“We are thrilled about this new partnership with Cummings Foundation and very thankful for the continued generosity demonstrated by Bill and Joyce Cummings,” said Endicott College president Steven DiSalvo, Ph.D. “Cummings’ support will ensure the continued development of our future nurses and health science professionals, which is critical, particularly during the current public health crisis.”
The $20 million dollar commitment will support the creation of a new building dedicated to the instruction of future healthcare workers. In recognition of this substantial funding, the nursing school will be renamed Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and DiSalvo has joined Cummings Foundation’s board of trustees.
The Foundation’s philanthropic focus is primarily on giving back in the areas where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed on a pro bono basis by Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings, the commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free suburban space, all of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.
“As home to our Cummings Center and Dunham Ridge business and technology campuses, Beverly has long been an important community to the Cummings organization,” said Bill Cummings, who co-founded Cummings Foundation with his wife, Joyce, in 1986. “With the highest appreciation for the College’s innovative learning programs, Cummings Foundation is so delighted to partner with Endicott to help fulfill the vital need for nursing and health sciences professionals.”
Among the Foundation’s other major commitments supporting health sciences education are $80 million to Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and $25 million to Boston-based Partners In Health for the creation of University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda.
Cummings’ partnership with Endicott was formally announced on October 21 at the groundbreaking for the new Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences building.
The $20 million commitment is accompanied by a large-scale conceptual orange “iron butterfly” sculpture, Cummings’ recently adopted symbol of hope, rebirth, and emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation this year erected 20 iron butterflies at various properties associated with the Cummings organization.
Endicott College offers doctorate, master, bachelor, and associate degree programs at its campus on the scenic coast of Beverly, Mass., with additional sites in Boston, online, and at U.S. and international locations. Endicott remains true to its founding principle of integrating professional and liberal arts education with internship opportunities across disciplines. For more, visit Endicott.edu.
