KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Officials at Western Michigan University and the community are continuing to react to the news that the school will be receiving the largest gift ever given to a public university in the United States.
The donors were anonymous, only identified as a group of alumni when the news broke on Tuesday. President Edward Montgomery calls the $550-million donation a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will benefit more than just the university.
“This is truly a groundbreaking gift with unprecedented potential,” Montgomery said. “It will absolutely transform our institution and how we serve our students, our community, and broader society.”
$300-million will go to support programs and offset student costs at W-Med. $200-million will go to the rest of the university and $50-million will support the athletics department. W.M.U. Board Chair Lynn Chen-Zheng says it’s a great day to be a Bronco.
“Our university and our community will be changed forever,” Chen-Zheng said. “We are witnessing history here, my friends.”
The university is still working out the specific details on how it will be spent, but it will greatly increase their scholarship fund and help diversify the student body, by offsetting the lofty costs for higher education. The over half-billion dollar Empowering Futures Gift will be delivered to the W.M.U. Foundation through several checks over the next ten years.
The gift is the largest single private donation to a public university, surpassing the previous record of a $500 million donation to the University of Oregon in 2016.
“We want to keep higher education within the reach of their dreams,” Montgomery said. “We’ll also be expanding support for juniors and seniors who are cash-strapped, so that they have financial means to keep them going.”
WMU had previously received $100 million in 2011, which helped create the medical school.
The announcement can be viewed at this link.
In a related matter, Dr. Montgomery spoke with us Wednesday morning about the gift. To listen to the interview, click here.
— John McNeil, Ken Delaney, Will Kriss, and Brandon James contributed to this reporting. —
