Childress Klein is making another major development — this time donating $2.5 million to UNC Charlotte’s Center for Real Estate, now named the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate. The gift by Childress Klein is the largest single gift in the center’s 10-year history.
The center’s naming was announced Sept. 23, during a luncheon at UNC Charlotte Center City. Don Childress and Fred Klein, senior managing partners of Childress Klein, made the announcement alongside Chancellor Philip L. Dubois and Belk College of Business Dean Steven Ott.
Childress Klein has been a UNC Charlotte supporter through the Childress Klein Scholarship for Merit, the Childress Klein Faculty Research Funds and the Childress Klein Fellowship Fund.
“We believe that UNC Charlotte has been instrumental to the growth and development of the Charlotte region,” Klein said.
Childress added, “The Childress Klein Center for Real Estate is an example of how an industry can support the education and research which in turn provides talent, ideas and expertise directly back to the industry.”
The gift will fund a new endowed professorship, master’s student professional training programs and faculty fellowships related to research on real estate and urban economics topics. With an expected match from the State of North Carolina for the professorship, the total impact of the gift will be $3.2 million.
Chancellor Dubois said the gift helps lead the University into the future:
“The Childress Klein Center for Real Estate embodies the successful partnership between the University and the real estate industry - a relationship strengthened by a mutual interest in growing and supporting the North Carolina economy,” said Dubois.
Childress Klein is a full-service commercial real estate firm offering products and services covering all aspects of commercial real estate.