$4.2 Million Gift Made in Support of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition
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May 07, 2008 - 9:25 PDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Assumption College receives largest gift ever
Worcester, Mass. (May 7, 2008) - Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo announced that Donald and Michele D'Amour have made an historic gift of $4.2 million to the College in support of the school's Catholic intellectual tradition. The D'Amour donation is the largest gift in Assumption's 104-year history.
"The entire Assumption community is deeply grateful to Don and Michele D'Amour for their extraordinary generosity," Cesareo said. "Their gift supports and strengthens Assumption's enduring commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition. This is a tremendous investment in our mission, in our faculty and in our students."
A 1964 Assumption graduate and a trustee of the College from 1991-1999, Donald D'Amour is chairman and CEO of Big Y Foods, Inc., based in Springfield (MA). Michele D'Amour oversees the independent supermarket chain's educational partnership initiatives.
"Though many colleges and universities have lost their religious roots, Assumption College continues to embrace its Catholic identity and protect the integrity of its mission," said Don. "Michele and I are very excited about Assumption's new president and the direction in which he is taking the college. Dr. Cesareo has articulated a vision for Assumption that we wholeheartedly support as essential to its growth. We consider this gift an investment in Assumption's distinct high quality offerings for its present and future students."
A portion of the $4.2 million gift to Assumption will be used to establish the Donald and Michele D'Amour Chair in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Their gift will also endow a distinguished speakers program that will highlight aspects of the Catholic intellectual tradition and establish a new faculty development grant fund. The grants will provide resources for faculty to develop new courses within the Catholic intellectual tradition, the First-Year Experience and the new core curriculum at Assumption.
Donald and Michele D'Amour joined President Cesareo at the annual faculty dinner on May 1st to announce and share their motivation for making the $4.2 million gift.
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About Assumption College
Founded by the Augustinians of the Assumption in 1904, Assumption College is a liberal arts and professional studies college rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The College forms graduates known for critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship and compassionate service. Assumption was named a "Best Value" in the 2006 edition of Barron's Best Buys in College Education. For the last several years, Assumption has been included in both U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Colleges" guide and the Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges as one of the best colleges in the northeastern United States.
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