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MSU receives $30 million gift - largest in school history from single donor

Members of the MSU Board of Trustees are expected to approve naming the pavilion in honor of alumnus Edward J. Minskoff during their meeting on Oct. 26.

Michigan State University alumnus Edward J. Minskoff will give the school $30 million, the largest gift in the 163-year history of the school.

The money will help MSU complete the Business Pavilion at the Eli Broad College of Business. It is intended to create innovative learning and career development spaces for business students.

“In making the gift to the business school, I’m honored to accept the naming of the business school pavilion,” Minskoff said in a video presented during the announcement. “It’ll be there forever so my great grandchildren will get to see it. That’s important to me, especially since Michigan State actually gave so much to me as a foundation for my moving forward in life.”

Members of the MSU Board of Trustees are expected to approve naming the pavilion in honor of Minskoff during their meeting on Oct. 26.

The 100,000-square-foot pavilion opens to Shaw Lane and is connected to the current business college facilities. It will feature state-of-the-art classrooms and other spaces, a glass-walled atrium that affords panoramic views of the Red Cedar River and an expanded career center to serve students, recruiters and corporate partners.

During his remarks, interim president John Engler said the university and his predecessor, Lou Anna Simon, had been working with Minskoff long before Engler's appointment in January.

“I think Mr. Minskoff decided this was the right time and I think he clearly wanted to send a signal about his confidence in Michigan State University, his belief that the best days are yet to be seen here on this campus,” Engler said after the press conference.

Minskoff said in his video he hoped the pavilion would elevate MSU’s stature and attract bright students who will become future business leaders.

Students will be able to use it in the fall of 2019.

During his career, Minskoff has developed more than 40 million square feet of residential and office space in New York City’s Manhattan and nine other major cities. He is the founder of Edward J. Minskoff Equities Inc., which owns, develops and manages high-end office and residential properties and other real estate.

“This is truly an exciting day in the life of Michigan State University and especially the Broad College of Business,” Dean Sanjay Gupta said.

Speaking to a crowd inside the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Gupta compared the pavilion’s future impact to that of FRIB, which he said elevated MSU’s research status.

“The facility that we are about to talk (about) is going to have a similar, tremendous and lasting impact on our entire campus.”

Minskoff’s gift helps to ensure the project's $62 million cost will completely be covered by donations.

Minskoff graduated from Michigan State in 1962 with a degree in economics and received an honorary doctorate in business from the Broad College in 2009. In 2013, MSU presented him with its Philanthropist of the Year award.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj

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