Saint Mary's University rings up another multi-million gift

Matthew Stolle, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·1 min read

Nov. 2—WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University has rung up another big donation, this one for $10 million from the Slaggie Family Foundation.

The Slaggie Foundation is overseen by Stephen and Barbara Slaggie. Steve Slaggie is one of the five founders of Fastenal, a Winona-headquartered global industrial supplier company.

"The Steve and Barb Slaggie family has long believed in the value of Catholic education and the importance of Saint Mary's University within the Winona community," a statement released by the university said. "Their recent $10 million gift commitment is testimony to this belief and will provide Saint Mary's with a remarkable transformational gift for generations."

The $10 million gift comes on top of an anonymous commitment of $25 million intended to spur other giving toward a $100 million goal. With this most recent gift, SMU has raised about $34 million.

In addition, last April SMU reported receiving a $4.5 million gift to help renovate Aquinas Hall into a state-of-the-art facility for business, science, psychology and a new nursing program. That donation came two months after receiving the record $25 million gift commitment.

Officials said the Slaggie gift will be directed toward Saint Mary's and innovation. In addition to their parents, the four Slaggie children supported the financial donation, including Michael, a 1993 alumnus.

The recent gifts appear to validate a decision by SMU two years ago to undertake an academic and strategic restructuring. As part of that restructuring, the school phased out 11 liberal arts majors. Officials said the move was designed to prepare students for "career success and ethical leadership through their lives."