Goodwill lands building donation for east-side Excel Center

Excel Center headquarters in Indianapolis (Image courtesy of Goodwill Education Initiatives)

Goodwill Education Initiatives—a subsidiary of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana—on Tuesday announced a major donation that will provide it with a longtime home for its Excel Center program in the Meadows area on the east of Indianapolis.

Longtime commercial real estate executive Gene Zink last month donated a 20,298-square-foot building at 3919 Meadows Drive to Goodwill. The Excel Center program has been leasing the 59-year-old former Bible college building near Rural and 38th streets since July 2011.

Goodwill opened the Meadows Excel center to students in January 2012 after a complete renovation of the building. It has more than 300 students.

The donation was valued at more than $1 million.

Goodwill Education Initiatives is the not-for-profit charter school operator that governs The Excel Center, Goodwill’s high school for adults, and Indianapolis Metropolitan High School for traditional-age high school students.

The Excel Center has 15 locations in central and southern Indiana and serves about 3,600 students overall.

Zink, a longtime donor and former board chairman for Goodwill, is executive chairman and founder of Indianapolis-based Strategic Capital Partners LLC and was previously a longtime chief financial officer for Duke Realty Corp. Zink led Indianapolis-based Duke through its initial public offering in 1993.

“I’ve had the privilege of seeing The Excel Center grow from its infancy into a leading institution for adults seeking to earn their high school diploma,” Zink said in written comments. “We are pleased to donate a building that will help Goodwill continue to change lives for many years to come.”

Excel Centers offer flexible schedules, expedited courses, free on-site child care and transportation assistance to adults who lack a high school diploma.

“We’re not only grateful for Gene and his family’s generous gift, but also for their longtime dedication to Goodwill’s mission,” said Kent Kramer, CEO and president of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, in written remarks. “This donation allows us to continue providing a quality high school education to adults in the Meadows neighborhood on Indy’s east side.”