News Summary
Recently, three universities—George Mason University, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego—have each announced multimillion-dollar donations aimed at enhancing student educational opportunities. The Kimmy Duong Foundation has gifted $20 million to George Mason, while Creighton and San Diego have received $10 million each from notable philanthropists. These financial contributions are set to support scholarships and initiatives that promote academic excellence across various disciplines, highlighting a trend of philanthropy within higher education.
Fairfax, Virginia — In a significant boost for higher education, three universities have recently received multimillion-dollar donations that promise to enhance student opportunities and academic programs. George Mason University, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego have each announced substantial gifts aimed at supporting scholarships and various initiatives, underscoring a growing trend of philanthropy in education.
George Mason University has become the recipient of a generous $20 million donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation. Additionally, this donation has the potential to reach a total impact of $36 million, thanks to eligibility for matching funds from Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program, which aims to increase the number of graduates in computing-related fields. In honor of this gift, the university will rename its School of Computing to the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing.
The funds from the donation will be allocated to create three endowments. Two of these endowments will focus on supporting scholarship programs and initiatives that promote student success within George Mason’s College of Engineering. The third endowment, named the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Scholarship Endowment, will specifically provide scholarships for students pursuing degrees in nursing, education, or journalism.
Creighton University has also announced a substantial gift, receiving a $10 million bequest from alumnus Elno Zikmund and his wife, Tillie. This donation will be utilized for unrestricted scholarships that will provide financial support across various academic fields. Zikmund, a former physician, emphasized that this funding reflects values important to him and aims to support a diverse range of students.
On May 1, the University of San Diego reported receiving a $10 million donation from Dan and Phyllis Epstein. This funding is targeted towards the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence, which is dedicated to serving students connected to the military. The donation is also framed as a challenge to raise an additional $10 million in matching donations for the center, aimed at expanding the resources available for military-connected students.
Dan Epstein, the executive chairman and founder of ConAm Group, highlighted the initiative’s importance to veterans and their families, reinforcing the Epsteins’ commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for those with military ties. The couple has a history of philanthropy at the University of San Diego, having previously supported various programs related to military-connected student initiatives.
George Mason University’s recent donation comes from Kimmy Duong, who has a remarkable personal history. Born in Vietnam, she earned her degree in economics and law from the University of Saigon in 1966. Duong worked for IBM before fleeing to the United States in 1975 with a mere $30. Over the years, she has built a successful career, eventually becoming the vice chairwoman and CFO for Pragmatics, a company she joined in 1994. In 2015, she established the Kimmy Duong Foundation, focusing on health, education, and welfare initiatives. Previous donations from Duong and her husband, Long Nguyen, to George Mason include $5 million in 2009 aimed at enhancing the Nguyen Engineering Building.
The recent donations to these universities highlight the transformative power of philanthropy in education. With significant investments being made towards scholarships and specialized centers, the future for students at these institutions looks increasingly promising. Such financial commitments not only assist in alleviating the burden of educational costs but also foster environments that encourage academic excellence and support student achievement.
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Additional Resources
- Northern Virginia Magazine
- Wikipedia: Philanthropy in Education
- Forbes
- Google Search: George Mason University donations
- WTOP
- Google Scholar: George Mason University donations
- GoMason
- Encyclopedia Britannica: George Mason University philanthropy
- NBC Washington
- Google News: George Mason University philanthropy
Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO
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