Biola University has received a $500,000 grant from the Kay Family Foundation to enhance Biola’s Talbot School of Theology’s global impact. The grant-making foundation located in Orange County, Calif. advocates for new models and systems that produce 21st century global leaders with ethical core values. A grant signing ceremony hosted by the foundation will be held on Sept. 3, 2015 in Rosemead, Calif.

The grant will help to bolster the Talbot Kyiv Extension program, Biola’s video conferencing and virtual classroom capabilities, and upgrade the infrastructure of Open Biola, Biola’s extensive online collection of free educational content.

“By focusing on and enhancing these three areas, the Kay Family Foundation’s gift goes a long way toward extending our global reach, using technology as a bridge to make a Talbot education accessible and affordable in new ways, all for the glory of God,” said Biola University President Barry H. Corey.

Biola is one of three Christian organizations to receive funding from the foundation's “faith pillar” this year, which all will use the grants for projects that have a spiritual and Asian or international component. All three organizations will join the foundation at the grant signing ceremony.

The grant will enable the university to enhance some key technology components and provide scholarships for students of Biola’s Talbot Kyiv Extension program, which launched in 2007 out of a need for theological education programs in post-communist Eurasia and offers the only western-accredited Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies throughout the region. Funds will also be used for the acquisition and implementation of the hardware and video conferencing subscription fees allowing Biola to connect the physical classroom with the virtual classroom, facilitate live learning interactions between faculty and diverse learning groups, and further extend Biola’s reach throughout the world. In addition, funds will be used to develop improved user experience, content translation, and a long term sustainability platform for Open Biola — one of Biola’s most significant recent methods for extending Biola’s global reach.

Kay Family Foundation (KFF) was established in 2005 through the pioneering vision of Steeve Kay and the Kay family. The foundation envisions a demand-driven surge of 21st century global leaders able to catalyze growth and positive impact in all sectors and looks to promote new models and systems that produce 21st century global leaders primarily in Orange County, Calif. and in areas across faith, education, medicine and the arts.

For more information contact Jenna Loumagne, Biola’s media relations specialist, at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.