$10 million new gift in addition to an earlier $10 million donation to University from David Green and family

Evangel University President Dr. Mike Rakes announced a second $10 million gift from the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby and Mardel.

The donation is set up as a matching gift and will be used to support several presidential initiatives, including the completion of the much-anticipated Valor Center. This is the second $10 million donation given to Evangel by the Green family over the last two years and matches the largest gift received in university history.

“We are grateful to the Green family for their continued support of EU,” said Rakes. “This second gift from the Greens is more than a spark, it’s an affirmation of Evangel’s impact on this generation.”

The matching gift allows for the contributions of university donors toward these initiatives to be doubled up to $10 million over the next 12 months.

With a $600 loan and an idea to make miniature picture frames, David Green founded what is now Hobby Lobby. From its modest beginning, the company now totals over 900 stores. David serves as chairman of the affiliate companies, the CEO of Hobby Lobby and a merchandise buyer.

David and his wife Barbara, are the proud parents of two sons and one daughter. Mart Green, Ministry Investment Officer of Hobby Lobby; Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby; and Darsee Lett, Vice President of Art/Creative. Son-in-law, Stan Lett, is Executive Vice President of Hobby Lobby. David and Barbara enjoy 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

David serves on the Board of Reference for Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2013, he was the honored recipient of the World Changer award and is an Ernst & Young national retail/consumer Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient, and a lifetime member of The Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame, (which is part of the Entrepreneur of the Year Academy).

Green is dedicated to a myriad of ministry projects. “We believe it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured,” cites Green. “God has been faithful in the past and we trust Him for our future.”

David Green’s book, Giving It All Away…And Getting It Back Again, share’s Green’s journey into generosity and challenges readers to leave a legacy that goes deeper than money. His first book, More Than a Hobby, tells the story of Hobby Lobby and shares key insights into his philosophy of retail. Both books are available at Hobby Lobby stores, local bookstores and online.