Harvard U. Gets $30-Million in ‘Payback’ From Alumnus Who Received Scholarships

How much: $30-million

Who gave it: Joseph J. and Katherine O’Donnell. Mr. O’Donnell is the founder of Boston Culinary Group, a food-service company, and Belmont Capital, an investment firm in Massachusetts, and owner of Allied Advertising Agency.

Who got it: Harvard University

Donors’ connection to the organization: Mr. O’Donnell is an alumnus of the university who earned a bachelor’s degree in government in 1967 and also a master’s degree in business administration in 1971. The couple’s two daughters also graduated from the university. A longtime donor, Mr. O’Donnell said the gift was “a natural evolution” of his support.

The gift’s purpose: The couple didn’t put an restrictions on the donation, but Mr. O’Donnell expects that some of the money will go to financial aid. Mr. O’Donnell, who grew up in a Boston suburb as the son of a police officer, received scholarships during his time at Harvard.

Donors’ other causes: In 1986, the O’Donnells founded the Joey Fund, an organization that raises money for cystic-fibrosis patients and research, after their son died of the disease at age 12.

Why they gave: “Without the benefit of so many people before me who had the foresight to allow people of diverse income levels and ways of life to come and benefit from a place like Harvard, I don’t know what I’d be doing if I didn’t have a full scholarship all the way through college and business school, so there’s a very deep feeling of payback here,” says Mr. O’Donnell. He particularly wants to support Harvard’s efforts to help middle-class families, noting that students whose household incomes are under $65,000 pay no tuition at the university. Those are gifts, not loans. I hope it sustains that.”