As the Auburn–Opelika community grows, so do the needs of the people who call it home. For the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University, that growth has meant more learners, more programs, and a deeper role in the lives of older adults across the region. With that comes the need for a space that can truly support that momentum—not just classrooms, but spaces designed for conversation, curiosity, and connection.
Today, that vision is closer than ever to becoming a reality.
As of February 20, supporters of OLLI surpassed a $400,000 donor challenge, bringing total funds raised for the OLLI building project to more than $2.47 million. Auburn University has also committed $2 million toward the project, underscoring the university’s belief in lifelong learning and its impact beyond the traditional classroom.
The campaign began in spring 2024 with an ambitious goal: raise $2 million to move the project forward. OLLI members and friends responded generously and thoughtfully. Within the first year, more than $1 million was raised through individual gifts and pledges, each one grounded in a shared commitment to lifelong learning and our community.
Momentum grew again last fall when an anonymous supporter offered a challenge to match new gifts dollar for dollar, up to $400,000. By the February deadline, OLLI donors had met—and then exceeded—that challenge.
Those donors, Joyce and Roger Lethander, later shared not only their names but their motivation. Their reason was straightforward: OLLI strengthens the community. Their generosity did not stop there. The Lethanders increased their gift to a total of $1 million to ensure that progress on a new OLLI campus could continue moving forward. Through their support, future learners will have a place to gather, share knowledge, and build the friendships that make OLLI special.
The campaign has been supported by volunteer leadership at every step, including the work of OLLI Fundraising Committee Chair Harold Bruner, sustained by Development Officer Allyson Dozier and OLLI Director Scott Bishop. Their efforts reflect something essential to OLLI’s story: this institute exists because its members invest in it—not just financially, but with ideas, time, teaching, leadership, and belief.
With this milestone reached, the project is now moving into the next phase of planning. In partnership with Auburn University Facilities Management, OLLI is establishing the framework that will guide the project through design and construction. This includes forming leadership and advisory groups, engaging consultants, and developing a project charter to define goals, scope, and priorities.
The programming phase—where the vision for the building begins to take more concrete shape—is expected to take approximately six to seven months following the project kick-off. Initial steps are already underway, with consultant selection in progress and kick-off meetings to follow.
For now, there is reason to pause and recognize what has already been accomplished—that when you build a campus, you build a community, and that community can become a legacy for people who believe learning is an essential part of living well and fully across the lifespan.
