Bradley University Announces $1 Million Gift for Pro Bono PT and OT Clinic

Bradley University is pleased to announce the receipt of a $1 million gift commitment from Polly Barton and her late husband, Glen. The gift will create The Glen and Polly Barton Clinic for Fitness and Function at Bradley University. 

“I am so very grateful to Polly for her generous support in creating The Glen and Polly Barton Clinic for Fitness and Function,” said Stephen Standifird, President of Bradley University. “What she and Glen have done throughout their lives for both Bradley and Peoria is inspiring. This gift will allow our talented students and faculty to serve those in Peoria who need these services the most.”

Polly is a native of Peoria, Illinois and has worked tirelessly as a community volunteer and philanthropist. She and her husband, Glen, have made a significant difference through the years across the greater Peoria community through their vision and support of numerous organizations. Glen enjoyed a 43-year career at Caterpillar, culminating in his role as CEO. He also served two terms on Bradley’s Board of Trustees, including a term as Chairman from 2000-2002.

The Barton Clinic will be a faculty-student pro bono clinic that provides physical therapy, occupational therapy and other health services to Peoria area individuals of all ages with chronic neurological disorders who are uninsured or underinsured. It will be organized and staffed by students and faculty in the Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Kinesiology and Health Science programs. More than 100 Bradley doctoral students will learn and serve in the clinic as part of experiential learning each academic year, alongside their teaching faculty. The clinic will also provide supervised learning experiences to Bradley students considering careers in health care, adding a valuable workforce development component to its impact.

“As Polly and I discussed how best to leverage the expertise found at Bradley, in a way that would have a meaningful impact across Peoria, this idea was a natural,” said Standifird. “The new Barton Clinic will be more accessible, reach more patients, and provide pediatric services, which is new. I could not be more grateful to Polly and Glen as we provide these opportunities to our students and for our community.”

This most recent gift commitment to Bradley extends the Barton’s long history of engaged support of Bradley, which has included past support for both the Business and Engineering Convergence Center and the creation of the Glen and Polly Barton Endowed Fund.

–Libby Derry