A Gainesville couple’s donation could help UF reach top tier status
Stephen and Carol Shey, founders of Shey Associates, a property management and development company, are donating their home and 657 acres of conservation land to the university.
The 12,000-square-foot home and property located near the intersection of Millhopper Road and County Road 241, will be used as a UF retreat center for visiting academics.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said the Sheys’ contribution will help UF reach the level of preeminence that the university is working toward.
"What’s important about this is that it gives UF something that many, if not most, highly ranked universities already have," he said. "That’s a world class conference center like this one."
Michael Laing, a 19-year-old UF applied physiology and kinesiology junior, said the center is a generous contribution to UF.
"That definitely offers a great opportunity for people to bring in new speakers, and I hope they do utilize that," he said.
The Sheys will continue to live at the property and take care of it while it is used as a conference center for an undetermined period of time.
The couple plans to donate artwork to the university’s Harn Museum of Art.
"We and our family look forward to taking this next journey in assisting the University of Florida and Alachua County in creating a home away from campus for the eventual pleasure and educational benefit of others," the Sheys said in a UF press release.
[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 9/9/2014 under the headline "Gainesville couple donates home, conservation land to UF"]
