PND (2/15/2000) -- Gifts From Individuals

University of Washington alumnus Neal Dempsey has donated $3 million to the University of Washington's Business School, where he is chairman of the advisory board. The gift is the largest donation given to the school by a living alumnus. Dempsey, who is a general partner at venture-capital firm Bay Partners, intends the money to fund a technology initiative aimed at training students for positions in high-technology management.

Lee, Thomas. "Venture Capitalist Gives UW $3 Million." Seattle Times 02/11/2000.

Couple Donates $2.5 Million to the Technical Institute for the Deaf

Joseph and Helen Dyer of Delray Beach, Florida have donated $2.5 million to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, New York. The donation will fund the construction of a 7,000 ft. glass-enclosed arts center at the college. Joseph, who is a mechanical engineer and Helen, who is an artist, are both deaf, however neither attended the Institute. Construction will begin later this year, with completion of the project depending on the school's ability to raise another $1.25 million.

Livadas, Greg. "NTID Receiving $2.5 Million Gift." Rochester News 2/16/2000.

Phil Johnson Donates $2 Million for Little League Fields

Phil Johnson, chairman of the board at Cascade Coffee and former owner of Millstone Coffee, has donated $2 million through his charitable foundation to the city of Everett, Washington. The money will be used to build four Little League fields on 13 acres in Everett.

Reardon, Kate. "Coffee Magnate Donates $2 Million for Ball Fields." Daily Herald 02/10/2000.

Point Park College Receives $1 Million Donation

Gerald McGinnis has announced a donation of $1 million to create the Gerald E. McGinnis Distinguished Lectureship Program for faculty recruitment at Point Park College in Pittsburgh. McGinnis, a trustee of the college, is the chairman and founder of Respironics, Inc. , a global marketplace for cardiopulmonary products.

Schackner, Bill. "Point Park Trustee Donates $1 Million to School." Post-Gazette 2/10/2000.

Bequests

Seattle Librarian Leaves $2 Million Estate to Charity

Gertrude May Lewis, a librarian in the Seattle Public Schools who died at age 84 in February 1998, left an estate worth $2.2 million, built on a mid-career salary of only $5,800 a year. Beyond a few small bequests, she divided it between educational and charitable institutions that had affected her life.

The Seattle school district will receive roughly $265,000, to be divided between her alma maters of John Muir Elementary School and Franklin High School. Similar bequests went to the University of Washington's College of Education; the residents' fund of the Kline-Galland Home (a Seattle assisted-living facility where she lived before her death); the Salvation Army Women's Shelter and the Seattle Library Foundation. Lewis bequeathed the house where she was born and lived almost her entire life to the City of Hope medical research organization, which will use the proceeds from its sale for its nonprofit work.

Denn, Rebekah. "She Lived Frugally and Left Millions to Help Out Others." Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter 2/12/2000.