History of the College Heights Foundation

The College Heights Foundation is formed by Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry in response to a $100 gift from faculty member, Lalla Boone, to benefit deserving students in need.

The Articles of Incorporation for the College Heights Foundation, Inc. are authorized by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky on July 17, 1923.

The home of the College Heights Foundation is located in Cabell Hall (now location of Gordon Wilson Hall).

Henry Hardin Cherry (1864-1937) became President of the College Heights Foundation while also serving as President of the Western Kentucky State Normal School.

$11,885 in student loans are issued in the first year.

CHF offices move to Potter College Framed Cottage, located between the Recitation Hall and the Training School, just southeast of where Dr. Cherry’s statue stands today. The structure was originally built as a sorority house for Potter College for Young Ladies.

Fundraising begins for the Kentucky Building, led by the College Heights Foundation.

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Construction of the Kentucky Building begins.

Student Loan Fund provides 4,200 different loans amounting to $144,787 in first 10 years.

CHF begins operation of the College Heights Bookstore.

CHF offices move to basement of the partially completed Kentucky Building.

Dr. Cherry passes away.

CHF provides $177,836 in student loans under the 14-year leadership of Dr. Cherry.

Dr. Paul Garrett is named the second president.

Construction of the Kentucky Building is completed and the building is dedicated on Founder’s Day.

Dr. Garrett passes away.

CHF provided $261,303 in student loans under the 18-year leadership of Dr. Garrett.

Dr. Kelly Thompson is named the third CHF president.

The CHF erects the “The Spirit Makes the Master” pylon at the top of the Hill in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the college.

CHF leads efforts for the renovation and remodel of the Faculty House, formerly the Cedar House. This facility also serves as the offices for the College Heights Foundation from 1959-1967.

The washeteria located on Dogwood Drive opened in 1961. It contained 20 washers and 8 dryers, mainly used by Western students. At the time, the launderette was thought to be the only coin-fed center in the country that was specifically for and operated by a college. After a while, the facility became so crowded that tables were set up for studying, vending machines were added, as well as a hair dryer. The College Heights Foundation financed the project. The launderette was dedicated on January 8, 1962 and closed in 1992 as laundry facilities were included in residence halls.

Construction begins for the Foundation Building.

Construction completed for Foundation Building, new home of the CHF.

Dr. Thompson begins reorganization of the College Heights Foundation. The duties of the President of the CHF are split from the duties of the University President. Dr. Dero Downing is named the fourth President of Western Kentucky University, and Dr. Thompson remains as President of the CHF.

A perpetual trust — the Memorial Fund — is created to provide a permanent endowment.

The new official seal of the College Heights Foundation was created by Dr. Thompson containing symbolic meaning. In the center of the seal is a torch of knowledge with the motto of the Foundation, “Guardians of Trusts.” The chain that trims the outer circle is patterned after the bronze chains festooned between the columns of the Colonnade.

The College Heights Foundation Golf Classic is established to raise money for scholarships.

The Memorial Fund increases by $2.25 million in first 10 years (1969 – 1979).

CHF assets total $3.22 million

$175,000 is budgeted in scholarships for the 1979-80 school year.

Dr. Thompson retires.

CHF provided $2,195,017 in student loans and more than 2,975 scholarships for at least $504,131 under the 24-year leadership of Dr. Thompson.

Dr. Dero Downing is named the fourth president of the College Heights Foundation upon his retirement as President of WKU.

CHF prioritizes growing the endowment and creating new scholarship funds each telling a unique story honoring and memorializing people, organizations, and groups.

CHF helps WKU acquire property located at 1700 Chestnut Street to serve as the new WKU President’s Home.

Dr. Kelly Thompson passes away.

The WKU Foundation was established to raise additional private support for professorships, capital projects, and programmatic needs of the Institution other than the traditional scholarship support provided by CHF.

The investment policy is revised to include a balanced portfolio of equities and fixed income to increase the overall earnings to grow the endowment.

The CHF endowment reaches more than $16 million.

The CHF provides $700,000 in scholarship support benefiting more than 1,000 students annually.

Dr. Downing retires as President of the CHF, but remains Chairman of the Board of Directors.

CHF provided 13,888 student loans totaling $2,102,134 and 16,000 scholarships totaling over $7.5 million under the 18-year leadership of Dr. Downing.

Mr. Alex Downing is named the fifth president of the College Heights Foundation. He also continues in his previous capacity as Treasurer of the CHF.

WKU goes public with the first campaign in the history of the institution. This $76 million “Investing in the Spirit” campaign raises private support for the people, places, and programs of WKU.

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CHF and WKU Foundation work in conjunction for the construction of the Guthrie Bell Tower. The Guthrie Bell Tower was the Guthrie family’s tribute to Robert Guthrie, a casualty of the Korean War and has become a tribute and honor to all veterans.

The Scholarship Celebration is implemented to pair donors and scholarship recipients together in an important stewardship annual dinner.

WKU culminates the Investing in the Spirit Campaign with more than $102 million raised.

WKU launches its second campaign, “A New Century of Spirit” with a $200 million goal.

Dr. Downing, still active as Chairman of the CHF Board of Directors, passes away at age 89.

The New Century of Spirit campaign concludes with more than $202 million raised.

Alex Downing announces his resignation to become President at Franklin Bank and Trust Company.

The CHF endowment has grown to more than $40 million.

The CHF provide $5.4 million in scholarships, benefiting more than 3,200 students annually.

CHF provided 4,143 loans totaling $973,780 and approximately 32,625 scholarships totaling nearly $40 million under the 13-year leadership of Mr. Downing.

Dr. Donald Smith begins his duties as the sixth president of the College Heights Foundation.

The CHF endowment tops the $50 million mark.

The CHF endowment tops the $75 million mark, and the number of funds grows to more than 1,200.

CHF relocates offices into the Honors College and International Center building ahead of the impending demolition of the Foundation Building.

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni announces the Opportunity Fund initiative at his investiture with a goal of raising $50 million for student recruitment, retention, and applied research opportunities to deserving students.

CHF purchases historic Bird Lawn property at 1703 Chestnut Street to renovate as the Cliff Todd Center, the new home to the College Heights Foundation.

CHF Annual Golf Classic tops over $1 Million in scholarships awarded to more than 1,700 students.

CHF moves offices to the Cliff Todd Center at 1703 Chestnut Street, adjacent to campus.

The CHF Golf Classic was retired after providing over $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,756 deserving students in its 46 year history.

The Kim Eisert Simpson Sensory Garden was dedicated on the grounds of the Cliff Todd Center.

The WKU Foundation and the College Heights Foundation consolidated on January 1, 2023 and combined assets totaling $257 million.

The College Heights Foundation celebrated its Centennial Anniversary on July 17, 2023.

WKU Announces Opportunity Fund surpassed the $100 million goal.

Total assets of the College Heights Foundation surpass $300 million.