Departments
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Week of 30 October 1998 |
Vol. II, No. 12 |
Feature
Article
John and Kathryn Silber establish scholarships with $1 million gift
Chancellor John Silber and his wife, Kathryn Underwood Silber, have given $1 million to Boston University. The charitable gift annuity will fund at least two full-tuition scholarships for undergraduates enrolled at the College of Arts and Sciences. The donation was announced at the October 22 meeting of the Board of Trustees.
"For nearly 30 years, John and Kathryn Silber's passion has been to build the excellence of Boston University," said Earle C. Cooley, chairman of the Board. "The University gratefully acknowledges and accepts this exceptionally generous gift as yet another example of their selfless and ongoing commitment to that goal."
The scholarships will be given to native Texans who graduate from a Texas public high school. The Silber Scholars will be selected on the basis of financial need and academic ability and promise. Both Dr. and Mrs. Silber were born and raised in Texas, and Dr. Silber was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Texas before he was named president of BU in 1970. He has been chancellor since 1996.
"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to John and Kathryn Silber for this latest example of their dedication to Boston University," said President Jon Westling. "By including the University in their estate plans with this life-income gift, they have made a further contribution that will benefit generations of students to come."
In fiscal year 1998, which ended June 30, BU received a record-breaking $61.4 million in gift income, up 22 percent from the previous record of $50.3 million, donated in fiscal year 1997. The University has set a goal of $72 million in gift income for the current fiscal year.
"The extraordinary generosity of the Silbers in making this donation to the University underscores their years of service to the University as well as their commitment to its future," said Christopher Reaske, vice president for development and alumni relations. "It is an inspiration to the spirit of giving that is driving the rapid growth of University support from alumni and friends."