Richard Faris donates $5M to College of Engineering at his alma mater, Villanova University

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Villanova University (MONTCO.Today file photo)

Villanova  University’s College of Engineering joined the ranks of the school’s winners recently — but this was a huge monetary victory.

Villanova University’s engineering facilities will get a major boost after alumnus Richard Faris and his wife Marilyn announced a $5 million commitment to the College of Engineering. Gifted through both cash and a commitment from their estate, the Farises’ donation will go toward expanding the college’s Center for Engineering Education and Research. The college’s structural engineering teaching and research laboratory has also been named after Faris, who graduated from the college in 1969 and received his master’s degree in 1970, writes Michelle Caffrey in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

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This is just the latest gift bestowed by the Farises. They’ve also made donations to support STEM programs and also toward renovations to Finneran Pvaillion.

Both werepart of the major capital campaign Villanova wrapped up in June after raising $759 million over the course of five years, far exceeding its original goal of $600 million.

“[The campaign’s success] really follows the track the university is enjoying right now,” Senior Vice President for University Advancement Mike O’Neill said in March.

A $50 million donation from the campaign’s co-chairman, Baltimore-based billionaire businessman, philanthropist and Villanova alumnus Jim Davis and his wife Kim, made up a sizable chunk of the campaign. It was the largest donation in the university’s history and the university said it catalyzed the donation of 10 other gifts exceeding $10 million and 123 exceeding $1 million. In total, more than 77,500 individuals donated to the campaign, and more than half were first-time donors.

To read the complete story click here.

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