News Summary
In a remarkable display of support for higher education, George Mason University, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego received multimillion-dollar donations. George Mason garnered a $20 million donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation, while Creighton and the University of San Diego each embraced $10 million gifts for various educational initiatives. These donations are set to significantly expand student scholarship opportunities and resources, showcasing a strong commitment to fostering diverse educational environments.
Fairfax, Virginia — In a significant boost for higher education, George Mason University, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego have collectively received multimillion-dollar donations over the past ten days. George Mason University was the recipient of a remarkable $20 million donation from the Kimmy Duong Foundation, which could potentially grow to $36 million through matching funds from Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program. Creighton University announced a $10 million bequest from alumnus Elno Zikmund and his wife Tillie, while the University of San Diego received a similar $10 million donation from Dan and Phyllis Epstein through their Epstein Family Foundation.
George Mason University is set to rename its School of Computing as the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong School of Computing in recognition of the foundation’s generous contribution. The $20 million donation will establish three significant endowments at the university. Two of these endowments will focus on scholarships and initiatives aimed at enhancing student success within the College of Engineering. In addition, the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Dong Scholarship Endowment will be directed towards scholarships for students pursuing majors in nursing, education, or journalism. Gregory Washington, the President of George Mason University, emphasized the transformative impact of this donation on future students’ opportunities, highlighting Kimmy Duong’s inspiring journey from Vietnam to her leadership roles in business.
Kimmy Duong has a rich background; she was born in Vietnam and earned degrees in both economics and law from the University of Saigon before working for IBM. After fleeing Vietnam in 1975, she and her husband, Long Nguyen, established Pragmatics, where she served as vice chairwoman and CFO. Notably, in 2009, the couple had previously contributed $5 million to help fund the Nguyen Engineering Building at George Mason University.
On April 22, Creighton University proudly announced the substantial $10 million bequest from the Zikmunds. This donation is characterized as one of the largest contributions for “unrestricted” scholarships, presenting opportunities for students from various fields and income levels. The Zikmunds, who had already created the Elno T. and Mathilda M. Zikmund Endowed Scholarship in 2010, have a legacy of generosity that demonstrates their commitment to education. Elno Zikmund was a well-respected physician based in Central City, Nebraska, and the president of Creighton University, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, expressed sincere appreciation for the Zikmund family’s contributions towards enhancing student lives.
Meanwhile, the University of San Diego received a significant boost on May 1 with the $10 million donation from Dan and Phyllis Epstein, which will support the establishment of the Epstein Family Foundation Military-Connected Center for Excellence. This initiative aims to assist military-connected students, including both active-duty personnel and veterans. The Epstein donation comes with the challenge of raising an additional $10 million in matching contributions for the Center, indicating a commitment to further amplify its impact. Dan Epstein serves as the executive chairman and founder of the ConAm Group, a prominent real estate management firm. The Epstein family has a long-standing history of support for the University of San Diego, contributing to various programs focused on military-connected students, diversity initiatives, and real estate studies.
The recent influx of donations to these institutions reflects a growing commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and support for diverse student populations. With these contributions, students at George Mason, Creighton University, and the University of San Diego are expected to benefit substantially, leading to broadened access to education and improved resources for academic success.
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Additional Resources
- Northern Virginia Magazine
- Wikipedia: George Mason University
- WTOP
- Google Search: Kimmy Duong Foundation donation George Mason
- Forbes
- Google Scholar: George Mason University donations
- GoMason
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Higher Education
Author: STAFF HERE CORONADO
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