DoTerra, a Pleasant Grove-based essential oils company, has presented Utah Valley University with the institution’s second-largest donation.
Part of a 10-year agreement, the contributions includes donations from doTerra worth $17.7 million.
A large portion of the donation will support scholarships, online educational opportunities and athletic programs, and includes the initial gift toward funding a new student-athlete wellness building. Among other university organizations benefiting from the donation are the Center for Constitutional Studies, the Women’s Success Center, the Noorda Center for the Performing Arts, and the College of Science.
“At doTerra, we feel an affinity with Utah Valley University,” said David Stirling, the company’s founding executive and CEO. “More than 500 of our current employees attend UVU. Plus, we have many employees who graduated from UVU or have children at the university. This donation gives us the opportunity to support a variety of UVU academic, athletic and art-based programs over the next 10 years.”
“We have witnessed first-hand how integral UVU is to our community and how effective UVU is in moving the needle when it has sufficient support,” said Corey Lindley, the company’s founding executive, president and chief financial officer. “We are thrilled with President (Astrid) Tuminez’s appointment, and impressed with her vision and future plans. We are pleased to show our support for all that she plans and will accomplish.”
Tuminez described the donation as “a game-changer for our university,” with benefits for the students and community that will be both immediate and long-lasting.
The athletic portion of the donation will help fund the planned Student-Athlete Academic and Wellness Center; new field turf for baseball at the UCCU ballpark; renovations and upgrades to the Lockhart Arena; and funding for student-athlete wellness, welfare and scholarships.
“This is a transformational and historic gift for UVU athletics,” said Jared Sumsion, UVU’s director of athletics. “Each one of our student-athletes will see the short- and long-term benefits because of doTerra’s commitment to this university and community.”