Robert Groves, MSU's vice president for university advancement, says the university will use an anonymous $10 million gift for scholarships and other priorities.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University has announced the receipt of a $10 million cash donation from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, a gift that will be primarily used for financial aid and scholarships.

The gift includes a $7 million donation that the donor has requested be used toward financial aid and scholarships, including those that enhance educational opportunities for women and minority students, as well as a $3 million unrestricted donation that will enable the university to advance its top priorities.

“I am immensely pleased that a donor would recognize the importance of investing in Michigan State University and specifically access for our students at this difficult economic time,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “A gift of this magnitude demonstrates an understanding of the value of MSU and the impact our mission has upon individuals, their communities and our world. Contributions such as this are paramount to our ongoing success, and I am deeply grateful for the generosity of this donor.”

The financial aid and scholarships portion of the gift will significantly enhance MSU’s ability to help students in need during this critical period, according to MSU Provost Kim Wilcox.

“Many of our students and their families are feeling the pinch of the current economic downturn,” Wilcox said. “At the same time, the importance of a college education has never been greater. This gift will allow MSU to make a substantial difference by helping many students complete their journey toward becoming college graduates.”

Robert Groves, MSU vice president for university advancement, believes the gift will help inspire others. 

“The partnership of our alumni, donors and friends is crucial in supporting MSU’s endeavors to keep costs down and to provide private scholarships and emergency financial aid,” Groves said. “We are profoundly thankful for this gift which exemplifies an immeasurable spirit of optimism in MSU as an exceptional and vital institution that makes a difference in our world.”

Officials at the financial institution which distributed the funds to MSU have assured the university that these funds came from legal sources by an anonymous donor.

The donation is the largest single anonymous gift from an individual the university has received for student scholarships. MSU has been working to increase general university scholarship funds for the recruitment and retention of undergraduate students. MSU awards a number of scholarships, many of which are made possible by alumni and friends of the university.  

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Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.