$74.5 million donation makes UO history

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Lorry Lokey has given $74.5 million to the University - the largest single academic donation in University history - and put Campaign Oregon past $700 million .

University President Dave Frohnmayer said Campaign Oregon, the unprecedented $600 million fundraising campaign, will continue until 2008 as scheduled. Including alumnus Phil Knight and his wife, Penny's, $100 million athletics donation and Lokey's gift, Campaign Oregon has thus far raised $717.5 million.

In a statement, Frohnmayer called Lokey's gift "catalytic."

"This extraordinary contribution from this extraordinary man - combined with donations of others - will help secure the University of Oregon's future as a major international force in scientific research and education and as Oregon's flagship institution in the liberal arts and professional education," Frohnmayer said.

In response to Lokey's donation, the University is collectively naming all 10 science buildings, plus the Integrative Science Complex , the Lorry I. Lokey Science Complex . Each building will also retain its individual name.

"This is an extraordinary investment in the University's scientific and research enterprise," said Rich Linton, vice president for research and graduate studies. "It's a wonderful lead gift on our broader initiative." Linton is referring to the Scientific Advancement and Graduate Education Initiative, which aims to recruit and retain exceptional faculty and graduate students to support scientific research. The donation will help SAGE further develop the Integrative Science Complex vision with facilities and instrumentation needed to support research, and launch interdisciplinary research initiatives.

The Stanford graduate's gift will primarily benefit the sciences, with $62 million allocated to those departments. Additionally, funds will go to programs in the humanities and social sciences that intersect with the natural sciences; to the School of Journalism and Communication; the future Alumni Center; and the President's Special Projects Fund, for Frohnmayer to spend on University needs as he sees fit.

This year, $6.5 million of the donation will be allocated. The rest will be distributed during the next five years.

Of Lokey's $392 million donations to universities and high schools, he has given the most - almost $132 million - to the University of Oregon. He made the previously anonymous gifts totaling $10.4 million for the Faculty Excellence Awards program.

A public celebration of the donation will take place today at 11 a.m. in front of Johnson Hall.

agrasgreen@dailyemerald.com

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