GoDaddy Founder Gives $1 Million to Launch The Bob Parsons Veterans Center at UB
October 1, 2013
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Bob Parsons, B.S. '75, D.H.L. '08, founder and executive chairman of Go Daddy, has made a $1 million gift to establish The Bob Parsons Veterans Center at the University of Baltimore. The donation, made from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, will also support veteran-related activities in the UB School of Law and in the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
"I attended University of Baltimore on the G.I. Bill after returning from Vietnam," Parsons said. "The discipline that I gained in the military, coupled with the University's commitment to veterans' reentry into civilian life, enabled me to be successful in my studies and beyond. The new Bob Parsons Veterans Center will provide the facilities, staff and programs which will allow the University to exponentially increase their reach and make veteran advocacy part of their core mission."
"Our veterans deserve all the support that we can offer them," UB President Robert L. Bogomolny added. "Because of the generosity of Bob and Renee Parsons, the University of Baltimore can help the region's increasing number of veterans realize their educational and professional goals. By providing a range of services that make use of our strengths in law and psychology, UB can create a national model in how universities meet the needs of veteran students and the veteran population in general."
Parsons will appear at UB on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, to officially launch The Bob Parsons Veterans Center. Details concerning the event program and invited guests will be released shortly.
More than 28,000 Maryland veterans have returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years as troop deployments are decreased. While students who have served in the military are known for their training, discipline, perseverance, teamwork and dedication, an important part of their transition to civilian life can involve targeted coaching, job placement training and additional education.
The Bob Parsons Veterans Center will emphasize a seamless process for addressing veterans' needs, including academic advising, guidance on financial aid and veterans benefits, and career counseling through graduation and beyond. In addition, the Parsons gift will launch the Parsons Veterans Psychology Clinic, which will specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and research of veteran-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder. National studies indicate that approximately one in five veterans from recent U.S. conflicts suffer from PTSD or traumatic brain injury. Finally, the Bob Parsons Veterans Law Clinic will focus on veterans' legal issues, building on the UB School of Law's successful clinical program, which is ranked 28th nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.