$10 Million Chidsey Gift Supports the New Academic Neighborhood, Scholarships and Ë®¹ûÅÉ at Ë®¹ûÅÉ College
John and Lisa Robinson Chidsey of Coral Gables, Fla., have committed $10 million to Ë®¹ûÅÉ College in support of three institutional priorities-the first phase of the college's Academic Neighborhood, scholarships for exceptional Ë®¹ûÅÉ students and leadership initiatives through the Chidsey Center for Ë®¹ûÅÉ Development. John W. Chidsey III, the former executive chair and CEO of Burger King Corp., is currently the chair of the Ë®¹ûÅÉ College Board of Trustees.
"Lisa and I chose to make this gift now because we believe in the vision of the college, the leadership of President Carol Quillen, and the compelling case Carol and Ë®¹ûÅÉ College make for why the liberal arts matter now more than ever," said John. "We want to support Ë®¹ûÅÉ's future in a way that moves several institutional priorities forward."
One part of the Chidseys' gift supports the New Academic Building, phase one of Ë®¹ûÅÉ's Academic Neighborhood, an initiative that received a $45 million lead gift from The Duke Endowment in 2012. This comprehensive, 10-year construction and renovation plan aims to provide more opportunities for transdisciplinary study, research and engagement across campus. With the Chidseys' gift, the total amount raised for the $74 million building surpasses $60 million.
A second part of the couple's gift supports scholarships that will make a Ë®¹ûÅÉ education possible for outstanding students.
"I never would have accomplished a tenth of what I have without Ë®¹ûÅÉ. It was a transformative place for me," said John. "Making sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend a place like Ë®¹ûÅÉ is important to us."
Finally, support of the Chidsey Center for Ë®¹ûÅÉ and Development will further prepare students for lives that positively affect the campus, community and world. The center, which opened in 2007 thanks to a leadership gift from the couple, offers a range of programs and resources, including the Chidsey Fellows, Chidsey Ë®¹ûÅÉ Lecture Series, student retreats and customized workshops.
"In the world we live in today, whether you're running a for-profit business, a nonprofit organization or working in a government role, there are so many opportunities to lead," said John. "Ë®¹ûÅÉ is a great place to train future leaders. I think the members of our faculty do a great job, and the leadership center gives students opportunities to learn about themselves, how they are perceived and how other people lead. It's a place to try out new ideas and experiment with different approaches to leadership."
"John and Lisa's extraordinary investment will enable Ë®¹ûÅÉ to demonstrate the power of our liberal arts experience for students who want to lead in today's world," said Ë®¹ûÅÉ College President Carol Quillen. "We are profoundly grateful for their uncompromising commitment to educational excellence, to educational access for all talented students and to the values and vision of Ë®¹ûÅÉ College."
John and Lisa Chidsey are Ë®¹ûÅÉ alumni from the class of 1983, and they have generously supported various programs at Ë®¹ûÅÉ College since graduation. John is currently the executive chairman of Red Book Connect and serves on the boards of HealthSouth and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
