Florida couple commits $3 million to Concordia Seminary

Glenn and Kay Hasse of Naples, Fla., and formerly of Edina, Minn., have committed $3 million to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, for student scholarship endowments and needed renovations to the library as part of the seminary’s Generations Campaign.

Kay and Glenn Hasse of Naples, Fla., have committed $3 million to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, for student scholarship endowments and renovations to the library as part of the seminary’s Generations Campaign.

“The myth is that books and libraries are going away. The truth is that libraries technologically equipped to reach people around the world will have a more profound impact than we could have imagined a few short decades ago,” said the Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer, the seminary’s president. “Mr. and Mrs. Hasse have a passion for students who will bring Jesus Christ to their congregations, communities and world. Because of their visionary generosity, the seminary library will speed the best of theological resources to pastors and missionaries around the world.”

The seminary’s two-story, 46,000-square-foot library, constructed in 1962, is the second-largest Lutheran theological library in North America. Its collections include original volumes from the seminary’s founding fathers, such as C.F.W. Walther; first editions of the Book of Concord; and J.S. Bach’s personal Bible. The library houses more than 270,000 print volumes, a 6,000-volume rare-book collection and one of the largest collections of Lutheran Reformation reference materials.

“There’s no greater gift that we can give but to help spread the Word that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world,” said Glenn Hasse, former owner and president of the Lakeville, Minn.-based food packaging company Ryt-way Industries. “One way to do that is to encourage more people to go into the ministry. We are grateful to provide this gift that will help to update the place where crucial preparation for ministry occurs.”

The couple’s support for the library is in memory of their daughter, Kristine, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 17, and is a testament to their deep love for the seminary and its mission to prepare pastors, deaconesses and other church workers for future generations.

A portion of the Hasses’ $3 million commitment — $700,000 — will be added to existing seminary endowments previously established by the couple, with the endowment income to be used for student scholarships.

The remaining $2.3 million represents a challenge: the seminary must raise an additional $2.1 million for library renovations by Jan. 15, 2017.

The Hasses’ commitment, combined with previous gifts received, brings the balance raised for library renovations to $3.9 million. The Hasses encourage other donors to step forward and help the seminary raise the remaining $2.1 million needed for enhancements to the 54-year-old library.

Once the library’s $6 million total fundraising goal is met, the library will be named the “Kristine Kay Hasse Memorial Library.” Kristine was a star high-school golfer and “wonderful and mature girl” who treasured her Lutheran upbringing, her mother said.

“It’s just so extremely important to Glenn and I that we have pastors in our churches in the future — the kind we saw with our own children,” said Kay Hasse. “That’s our hope: to help more people to become ministers and church workers.”

Generations: The Campaign for Concordia Seminary — the largest in the seminary’s history — launched its public phase in September 2015. It aims to build endowment, increase annual support, and expand library and learning technology initiatives. To date, more than $136 million has been raised toward the $180 million goal.

To learn more about the Generations Campaign or to make a gift, contact seminary advancement at 800-822-5287 or advancement@csl.edu. Or visit csl.edu/generations.

Posted May 17, 2016