The Celidon Foundation
Undertakes us$1.5
Million Campaign for
Pre-Construction Costs
of the University for a
Sustainability
Following last week’s
announcement by the
Celidon Foundation that
it intends to construct
the University for a
Sustainable Future near
the Papagayo Peninsula
in Guanacaste, the
organization is
undertaking a capital
campaign to raise us$1.5
million dollars to cover
the preconstruction
costs of the project.
The University for a
Sustainable Future is
part of the Celidon
Foundation’s “grand
vision” to create a
sustainable world for
the present generation
and all future ones.
The announcement was
made at a gala event in
Playa Panama on
September 5th that
included approximately
90 distinguished U.S.
and Costa Rican guests
and senior executives of
the Celidon Foundation:
Dr. Jane Goodall,
Honorary Chair; Dr.
Donald Jacobs, Chair;
Dr. Rick Rantz,
President and CEO; and
Dr. Gloria Doll, Vice
President.
Highlighting the evening
was a presentation by
Dr. Rantz in which he
provided guests with an
overview of the
University project. This
was followed by a
presentation by Dr.
Goodall titled, “Reasons
for Hope” in which she
conveyed the
significance of her
Roots & Shoots program
located in nearly 100
countries to a
sustainable future.
The University for a
Sustainable Future will
include a Roots & Shoots
program at the
pre-university level,
undergraduate and
graduate programs,
community and workforce
development programs,
and a lifelong learning
program.
The environmentally
focused and integrated
university will be
dedicated to
environmental, economic
and social research; the
development of clean and
renewable technologies;
and the advancement of
eco-literacy, global
stewardship, innovation,
creativity, and
scholarly excellence.
Strategic goals are to:
- Become a prestigious
institution that ranks
among the world’s top
universities
Admit students from
around the world, with
priority given to U.S.
and Costa Rican students
- Provide scholarships
to worthy students who
demonstrate high
academic standing, a
commitment to
environmental
stewardship, and
demonstrate financial
need
- Offer those academic
programs at the
Bachelor’s, Master’s and
Doctoral levels that
best enhance the
University’s mission
- Enhance the economic
vitality, well being and
sustainability of the
Guanacaste Province,
Costa Rica, and the
world
- Recruit the world’s
brightest scholars and
most accomplished
researchers for
University faculty
- Construct all
facilities in accordance
with the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED)
certification of
“Platinum,” the highest
rating established by
the U.S. Green Building
Council
- tilize wind, solar and
other clean technologies
to reduce or eliminate
the reliance on
unsustainable energies
-Emphasize global
warming research
- Receive U.S.
accreditation and
university status in
Costa Rica
Phase One of the
University for a
Sustainable Future will
include an environmental
studies and research
institute, student and
faculty residences, and
pre-college and distance
education components,
all built by an
institutional consortium
that includes the
Celidon Foundation,
international
universities, and
pre-collegiate schools.
Items comprising the
preconstruction costs of
the project include
surveys, soil reports,
master planning,
architectural renderings
and drawings,
engineering, materials
testing, LEED
consulting, among
others.
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