New York’s Union College Receives Pledge of $18-Million; Other Recent Gifts

Three higher-education institutions have received big gifts and pledges:

• Union College, in Schenectady, N.Y., has received an $18-million pledge from an alumnus, John S. Wold, a geologist and former member of Congress from Casper, Wyo., and his wife, Jane. The $18-million, promised as a bequest from the couple, will be earmarked for capital improvements, endowment, and faculty support. The couple also provided an additional $2-million for the creation of a new house that will offer students another alternative to living in fraternity or sorority houses.
• The Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, has received $15-million from William H. Goodwin Jr., president and chairman of CCA Industries, in Richmond, Va., and his wife, Alice, through their family foundation, the Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research.
• Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, N.Y., have received a promise of a bequest of $10-million from William F. Scandling, of Atherton, Calif., founder of Saga Food Service and a trustee and an alumnus of Hobart College. The gift is unrestricted. In addition, he provided $5-million to be paid over the next five years.

Other recent gifts:

Allegheny College (Meadville, Pa.): $5-million from Patricia Bush Tippie, an alumna and vice president of Tippie Services, a management-services company, and her husband, Henry B. Tippie, chairman of the board of Tippie Services and of Dover Motorsports and Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, both in Dover, Del., for renovations of a campus building to create an alumni center; and a $1-million challenge gift from Dag and Julie Skattum, both alumni, for the annual fund, which supports athletics, capital improvements, faculty, and scholarships. Mr. Skattum is managing director at J.P. Morgan in London.

Arkansas State U. (Jonesboro): $2.8-million bequest from James L. Thompson, who was an alumnus of the university and a commercial airline pilot, for financial aid and academic research.

Drexel U. (Philadelphia): $1.5-million from Christopher Stratakis, an alumnus and senior partner at Poles, Tublin, Patestides, and Stratakis, in New York, and his wife, Mary, to endow a chair in corporate governance and accountability at the LeBow College of Business.

Georgia Museum of Art, U. of Georgia (Athens): Approximately $6.3-million from Martha Daura, of Vero Beach, Fla., daughter of the late Modernist artist Pierre Daura. The gift includes art by Mr. Daura and $2-million in cash.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York): $12-million from Peter B. Lewis, chairman of the Progressive Corporation, an insurance company in Mayfield Village, Ohio, and chairman of the museum’s Board of Trustees, to relieve existing debts and reduce the principal on an outstanding bond issue. The gift came with the condition that the museum’s proposed budget be significantly reduced.

Haverford College (Pa.): $2-million from an anonymous donor in support of the college’s science programs.

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington (Rockville, Md.): $1.8-million bequest from Isor Gildenhorn, who owned Mayflower Liquors, in Washington, and his late wife, Bella, to help complete its new assisted-living home.

Indiana U. (Indianapolis): $5-million from the family of the late Thomas H. Lake, a former president of the Lilly Endowment, in Indianapolis, and his late wife, Marjorie Lytle Lake, to establish an institute on faith and giving at the university’s Center on Philanthropy.

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (Rockville, Md.): $1.8-million bequest from Isor Gildenhorn, who owned Mayflower Liquors, in Washington, and his late wife, Bella, for the annual campaign of the United Jewish Endowment Fund.

Jewish Social Service Agency (Rockville, Md.): $1.8-million bequest from Isor Gildenhorn, who owned Mayflower Liquors, in Washington, and his late wife, Bella, for its programs, including a monthly newsletter.

MetroHealth System (Cleveland): $3-million from the family of the late David H. Jacobs, of Bay Village, Ohio, for clinical and scientific research, community health centers, and a facility for trauma, emergency medicine, and surgery services.

Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (Los Angeles): $1-million from Luis Nogales, managing partner of the equities firm Nogales Investors, in Los Angeles, for its work on behalf of immigrants in the areas of education, health care, and jobs.

Nuclear Threat Initiative (Washington): $1-million from J.B. Fuqua, of Atlanta, a businessman and a former Georgia state legislator, for its work to reduce the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

Oklahoma Christian U. (Oklahoma City): $5.7-million from two alumni, H. Richard Lawson, co-founder of Lawson Software, in St. Paul, and his wife, Pat, both of Dallas. The gift will be used for capital improvements, endowment, and general operations.

Oregon Health & Science U. Foundation (Portland): $5-million bequest from Bula Buck Arveson, who resided in Portland, to establish an endowment at the Casey Eye Institute for research on macular degeneration.

School District of Philadelphia: $1.7-million challenge gift over three years from H.F. Lenfest, president of the Lenfest Group, in Philadelphia, for a collaboration with Teach for America through which recent college graduates will teach in Philadelphia public schools.

Tiger Woods Learning Center (West Anaheim, Calif:.) $5-million from the golfer Tiger Woods to build an educational and golf facility at a local golf course. The center will provide educational programs to underprivileged children living in Southern California.

U. of California at Merced: $2-million from Joseph Edward Gallo, founder of Joseph Farms, in Atwater, Calif., to establish a recreation and wellness facility on the new planned campus.

U. of Florida (Gainesville): $3.2-million from Carol and Steve Powell, of Fort Lauderdale, to endow a director’s position at the Center for Construction and the Environment, and for academic programs in the College of Design, Construction, and Planning.

U. of Kentucky (Lexington): $1-million from Richard A. Barbella, an alumnus who works as a budget administrator for the university and who recently won a Powerball lottery jackpot, for the general endowment fund.

U. of Minnesota School of Music (Minneapolis): $5-million bequest from Harvey Berneking, an alumnus who was a real-estate developer in San Francisco, for fellowships and scholarships, and to create an endowment.

U. of Mississippi (University): $1-million from Mike Starnes, an alumnus who founded M.S. Carriers, a trucking company in Memphis, for scholarships.

U. of Rochester (N.Y.): $2-million from Brian Prince, an alumnus and corporate executive officer for Shinsei Bank, in Tokyo, for academic programs, athletics, and scholarships.

U. of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia): $10-million from Jay H. Baker, an alumnus and a director of Kohl’s Department Stores, in Menomonee Falls, Wis., and his wife, Patty, for academic programs, endowment, fellowships, and a faculty chair in retail at the Wharton School.

Washington and Lee U. (Lexington, Va.): $12.5-million challenge gift from four alumni: Rupert H. Johnson Jr., vice chairman of Franklin Resources, in San Mateo, Calif.; H.F. Lenfest, president of the Lenfest Group, in Philadelphia; Jonathan W. Warner, retired chairman of Gulf States Paper Corporation, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and an anonymous donor. This gift will support academic programs, capital improvements, scholarships, and faculty support.

Westmont College (Santa Barbara, Calif.): $1.6-million bequest from Carolyn Ruth DeYoung, an alumna and a secretary from San Mateo, Calif., for endowment and capital improvements.