Ringling College of Art and Design Receives $15 Million Gift

The Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, has announced a $15 million gift from trustee Joel Morganroth and his wife, Gail Morrison Morganroth, in support of a range of initiatives.

The first eight-figure gift in Ringling's 87-year history will provide support for endowment, capital projects, scholarships, current and future programming, the Sarasota Museum of Art, and the creation of the first endowed department head at Ringling College in its newest major, Virtual Reality Development.

Joel Morganroth is an academic cardiologist with expertise in clinical research and the founder of ERT, a global company focused on improving the process of ensuring the safety of new medical therapies. Gail Morganroth is an academic nephrologist and vice dean for education at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. They have lived in Sarasota since 2009.

"We wanted to make a significant contribution to something that we believe in," said Joel Morganroth. "The college not only shares our central core beliefs, but they never settle or stop. We continue to want to be a part of an institution that is always looking to the future, to stay relevant and affect change."

"Art and design is about progress, creativity, change, and growth, and Ringling College has been dedicated to educating and inspiring artists and designers from around the globe for over eighty-six years," said Larry R. Thompson, president of the college. "But that mission cannot be accomplished without the support and generosity of our friends. We are honored and grateful for this momentous gift — a gift that will bolster every corner of our institution."