The Gene and Jerry Jones Family has committed $10 million to the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, marking a significant contribution to the facility’s ongoing modernization and expansion. The gift, announced by both the Jones Family and the Clinton Foundation, will further enhance the center’s educational and public service offerings.
The funding is part of a broader effort to upgrade the Clinton Center’s facilities, which include resources for students, teachers, adults, and civic learners. The institution also serves as home to the Clinton School of Public Service, part of the University of Arkansas System, which offers the nation’s first Master of Public Service degree. Renovations will include updates to galleries, archives, and community spaces, as well as the creation of a new gallery focused on former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s career.
Since its opening in 2004, the Clinton Presidential Center has played an integral role in Central Arkansas. The center has driven over $4.9 billion in economic impact in Little Rock and North Little Rock, hosted over 5.5 million visitors, welcomed more than 525,000 students and educators free of charge, and graduated over 700 students from the Clinton School of Public Service.
“Standing next to President Clinton to make this donation alongside my wife, Gene, and our family is one of my greatest honors,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “Arkansas, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas have shaped and supported our family’s journey. This is a heartfelt moment as we contribute to the Clinton Center’s powerful legacy of education and service.” Jones also emphasized the personal significance of supporting both the university and the Clinton Center’s evolution.
Former President Bill Clinton expressed his gratitude for the gift. “Jerry Jones is an American sports icon who has achieved incredible success while never forgetting his roots,” Clinton said. “I deeply appreciate his dedication to Arkansas and am proud to accept this generous gift, which will allow the Clinton Presidential Center to remain a hub for education, service, and bipartisan dialogue.”
The modernization project, the first major update to the center in two decades, is being led by architect Jeanne Gang and Studio Gang. Plans involve a reimagined Clinton-Gore Administration gallery, a new home for the Clinton School of Public Service and the Clinton Foundation’s Little Rock offices, and a redesign of the 50-acre Clinton Presidential Park to make it more accessible for community gatherings.
The Clinton Presidential Center serves as both a historic archive and a platform for future-focused, inclusive discussions. Located at the geographic and civic heart of the country, it aims to preserve history while fostering bipartisan discourse and educational opportunities.