CANTON — St. Lawrence University announced Saturday it has received the largest gift in the University’s 161-year history.
Sarah E. Johnson ’82 and her parents, Charles and Ann Johnson, members of the Laurentian circle of leaders, have committed an unrestricted gift to the university of $25 million.
The previous largest gift was for $10 million from Sarah Johnson for the Johnson Hall of Science. The hall, which was the first LEED Gold-certified science building in New York state, was dedicated in October 2007.
Sarah serves as a trustee as well as a co-chair of the university’s forthcoming fundraising campaign. Charles and Ann are connected to St. Lawrence as parents and grandparents.
“This extraordinary vote of confidence is a life-altering gift for St. Lawrence in its proportions and intentions and will allow the University to fund myriad priorities in people and programs,” St. Lawrence University President William L. Fox said in a release. “The Johnsons believe in what makes this place so special, and their exceptionally generous giving helps advance St. Lawrence for today’s students and the generations to come.”
Charles Johnson is the retired chairman and president of Franklin Resources/Franklin Templeton Investments. Ann Johnson is a retired psychiatrist. Together with their daughter Sarah, a film producer and St. Lawrence alumna, the Johnson Family is not only devoted to St. Lawrence but also is recognized as leading American philanthropists in arts and education.