February 10, 2014 | Read Time: 1 minute
Amount donated in 2013: $50.01-million
Beneficiary: University of South Alabama
Background: Mr. Mitchell is a co-founder of the Mitchell Company, a real-estate firm in Mobile, Ala.
Mr. Mitchell, 79, pledged $50-million to the University of South Alabama. He is directing $25-million of the gift to endow academic scholarships and the other half to support the Mitchell College of Business.
The donor never attended the university. His involvement grew over the years through a friendship with the late Gordon Moulton, who served as president of the institution from 1998 to 2013. Mr. Moulton died in September.
Mr. Mitchell said his decision to devote half of his donation to financial aid was based on Mr. Moulton’s wish to create more scholarships and his own desire to provide additional financial resources to all students.
“The emphasis is not only on the highest academic achievers who have many opportunities,” said Mr. Mitchell, “but also on those solid middle-achieving students who traditionally might not receive academic scholarships.”
He said he hopes his gift will not only help many more students graduate with less student debt but also enable good students who do not test well to pursue a college degree.
Mr. Mitchell also gave the university $11,185 for a fundraiser for the Mitchell Cancer Institute last year. He gave the institute $20-million in 2006.
The Philanthropy 50: Browse the full list of America’s most generous donors in 2013.
