John and Mary Pappajohn announced last week a $10 million gift commitment to continue entrepreneurship education and programming through the state’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers.
John Pappajohn made the announcement on Thursday, Sept. 23, at a 25th anniversary celebration for the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers, held at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.
The $10 million commitment will support all five of John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers across the state at the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, and North Iowa Area Community College.
John and Mary have now given a total of $35 million to the centers, in step with his goal of becoming the state’s biggest philanthropist. John organized and financed the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at five universities and colleges in Iowa in 1996 with a $1 million check, according to the Des Moines Register, and has continued to support these centers for the past 25 years.
