Vol. 19, No. 3	Sept. 16, 1999

$10 million gift from Unidel to endow faculty chairs

The Unidel Foundation Inc. has made a $10 million gift to the University of Delaware for endowed faculty chairs, in connection with UD's current capital campaign. The Hon. G. Burton Pearson Jr. announced the gift today, on behalf of the Unidel trustees.

Judge Pearson said the gift continues the Unidel Foundation's program of "putting the emphasis on improving the quality of teaching students at the University and seeking to instill in students an eagerness to pursue knowledge-during and after University life."

"This gift-one of the largest yet received for the Campaign for Delaware-is truly extraordinary, and we are exceedingly grateful to the Unidel Foundation," UD President David P. Roselle said.

"We are very thankful for this and other support UD has received from the Unidel Foundation-support that, since 1960, has totaled approximately $100 million," Roselle said. "The Unidel Foundation's impact on this University over nearly four decades is truly remarkable."

Roselle said the Campaign for Delaware, which by early July had raised more than $134 million toward an overall goal of $225 million, gives UD "an opportunity to celebrate where we've been and help chart our future.

"Importantly," Roselle said, "the Campaign for Delaware allows us to celebrate the University's tremendous good fortune in having wonderful friends, with the Unidel Foundation being one of the most prized."

The five-year Campaign for Delaware, announced last October, has as one of its goals $35 million for faculty support, including endowment to recruit, retain and reward distinguished faculty through named professorships and to support early-career faculty, thus encouraging young scholar-teachers.

Provost Mel Schiavelli said the $10 million gift from Unidel "will allow UD to appoint and retain truly remarkable individuals as members of our faculty, helping us to improve our University for generations to come."

The Unidel Foundation was founded in 1939 by Amy Elizabeth du Pont in memory of her father, Eugene du Pont, former head of the DuPont Co. Miss du Pont had served on the Board of Trustees' advisory committee on the Women's College, which with Delaware College, became the University of Delaware in the 1920s. She was the first person in Delaware to direct her philanthropy to the higher education of women, according to noted Delaware historian Carol Hoffecker, and this was a most important legacy.

Among many initiatives, gifts from Unidel support UD's most prestigious scholarship program, named in honor of Eugene du Pont. Unidel grants have also helped with the renovation of the signature building on the Mall and home of the Department of English-Memorial Hall-the Morris Library and funded the creation of the nationally recognized University Honors Program.