September 8, 2009 - The Kresge Foundation Challenge Grant–Challenge Goal Achieved!
By God’s supernatural provision, in December 2007, Northwestern was awarded a prestigious Kresge grant of $750,000. In order to receive this grant we were challenged to raise $3.7 million by June 30, 2009.

On June 29, 2009, we officially hit our goal for the Kresge Challenge Grant. The culmination of our fundraising efforts, including the $750,000 grant, put us just over the $12.5 million building goal for the campaign, and $23 million total raised for Envision Excellence. On July 31, 2009, the Board of Trustees voted to break ground on the new Billy Graham Community Life Commons building. Our plan is to have this building completed by the summer of 2011.

What once seemed impossible has now been accomplished. A few years ago, we began as an unlikely candidate for a grant from the prestigious Kresge Foundation. We then became the underdog with a goal so stretching it seemed nearly impossible unless the Lord intervened. Along the way we encountered a significant economic downturn and, with the Lord's help, we were able to meet our goal on time.