Wash. Financier Gives $20 Million to Scholarship Program

A Washington state tech investor has donated $20 million to expand a state program that provides college scholarships for low-income students, reports The Seattle Times. The gift from Gary Rubens benefits the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, a public-private partnership established by former Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Launched with $50 million from Microsoft and Boeing, the program has awarded 4,400 scholarships to date. Mr. Rubens’ contribution will provide financial assistance to another 6,800 freshmen and sophomores over five years. The Woodinville, Wash., investor, who did not go to college himself, founded a home-improvement e-commerce site that was later acquired by hardware chain Lowe’s. He is now an angel investor in tech start-ups.