Bethany Lutheran College and its next-door neighbor have been connecting more in recent years. Starting next year, they’ll even be going to the same gym.
Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato has agreed to provide an undisclosed level of support for Bethany’s new Wellness Center, the college announced Tuesday. In return, Mayo employees will be able to use the fitness center being constructed just a block west of the Mankato hospital.
President Gene Pfeifer described the college as “very thankful for the support” as well as for other recent partnerships with its longtime neighbor on Marsh Street. Those collaborations include the 2018 agreement to have Mayo provide health care services to Bethany students and staff in an on-campus office and the 2019 contract to provide training services to Vikings athletes.
“They are of tremendous benefit to our students on our growing campus,” Pfeifer said in a statement announcing the latest partnership.
Although Bethany and Mayo aren’t releasing any of the financial details of the arrangement, it won’t be an exclusive naming rights deal.
Mayo’s contribution is focused on the 16,000-square-foot portion of the 84,000 facility that will house fitness and exercise rooms. Signs in that part of the facility will acknowledge the Mayo partnership but the fitness center won’t be named after the health care provider, Bethany spokesman Lance Schwartz said.
Fundraising continues for the $16.7 million facility, and the opportunity remains for a donor’s name to be attached to the overall structure or components of it.
“Bethany continues to seek additional partners for a variety of sponsorship and naming rights opportunities in the Activity and Wellness Center,” Schwartz said.
