U. of Colorado Donor Disputes Pledge Amount

A donor blamed for reneging on a pledge of $95.7-million to the University of Colorado denies that he ever promised the university so much money, reports The Denver Post.

Gasper Lazzara, founder of a chain of orthodontic clinics based in Florida, says the amount he offered to donate was less than half the amount the university has said it was. He made one payment of $3-million and notified the university in May that he could not fulfill the rest of his pledge. Lazzara says that the university inflated his gift. “They put that out as a press release without me knowing,” he tells the Post.

The university denies it exaggerated his commitment. “We stand by the 2003 news release that was approved by all the parties involved,” says a university spokeswoman, Catherine Bedell.

For more coverage of the controversy, read an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. (A paid subscription is required.)