ORAU President and CEO Andy Page, left, surprises Pat Postma, second from left, and Alan Tatum, second from right, co-chairs of the Advisory Committee of the International Friendship Peace Pavilion, with a $100,000 donation from ORAU to go toward the new pavilion on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. Also pictured is ORAU Executive Vice President Eric Abelquist. (DOE photo courtesy Lynn Freeny)
Surprise announcement made at ETEC annual awards luncheon
ORAU President and CEO Andy Page presented a $100,000 donation for the International Friendship Peace Pavilion during a surprise announcement at the East Tennessee Economic Council’s annual awards luncheon on Friday.
The plans for the new International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion, which includes moving the 8,000-pound bronze cast bell from its current location in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge to another location within the park, were unveiled recently.
Organizers and volunteers have now raised $525,000 in the drive to  build the new Peace Pavilion. They have said it could cost $750,000 to build the new structure and pavilion.
According to www.friendshipbell.com, the bell “symbolizes peace and international friendship into the future,†and “the vision is to house the International Friendship Bell in a Peace Pavilion. This new design will bring a larger plaza around the bell and pavilion, making it a site for gathering, thoughtful reflection and observing the bronze work of art.â€
ORAU wanted to do its part to help make the relocation of the Friendship Bell within Bissell Park and the addition of the Peace Pavilion a reality, a press release said.
“In an effort to help preserve Oak Ridge’s historical heritage and take care of our neighbor, the International Friendship Bell that is located across the street from ORAU’s main campus, ORAU decided to make this donation,†Page said in the press release said. “ORAU is proud to remain a strong pillar of the Oak Ridge community since 1947.â€
ORAU provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security, and health. Through specialized teams of experts, unique laboratory capabilities and access to a consortium of more than 100 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local, and commercial customers to advance national priorities and serve the public interest. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.
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