Washington and Lee Receives $33 Million

By Jay Conley jay.conley@roanoke.com 981-3114

A 1953 graduate of Washington and Lee University has donated $33 million in matching funds to the Lexington-based school to subsidize faculty salaries.

H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest is also a former trustee of the school.

“No matter how much one loves teaching or a particular university, it is important to be adequately compensated for that dedication,” Lenfest said in a press release. “My life benefited from great W&L teachers and I am happy to make sure that today’s students have that same benefit.”

The donation will require a match of $33 million to be raised from other sources by the university. The gift will be used solely to enhance faculty compensation.

Lenfest is president and chief executive officer of The Lenfest Group in West Conshohocken, Pa. After graduating from Columbia Law School, he practiced law with the New York firm Davis Polk & Wardwell. In 1974, he started Lenfest Communications with the purchase of two cable television companies. When he sold his cable television company to Comcast Corp. in 2000, it was the 11th largest in the country.

Lenfest and his wife, Marguerite, have now contributed nearly $63 million to Washington and Lee. The university’s performing arts center is named for him, and he provided major funding for Wilson Hall, the university’s art and music building.

Lenfest has received numerous awards for public service and philanthropy. In 2005, he was named one of the 50 Most Generous Philanthropists by BusinessWeek magazine. Last year, he received the Horatio Alger Award given to those who “rise from humble beginnings and overcome adversity through hard work.”

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