Philanthropy: Virginians give to higher education, health care

In the last year, philanthropists and foundations in Virginia have made record-breaking donations to higher education institutions and health care systems, with multiple donors continuing their longstanding support for several institutions.

Jane Batten, the matriarch of a philanthropic Hampton Roads family, pledged $100 million to William & Mary in July 2024 — the largest gift in the 331-year-old university’s history — to boost coastal and marine science research into global solutions for flooding and sea-level rise. William & Mary will build out the Virginia Institute of Marine Science site, constructing the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. In February, Dr. Todd Stravitz, a W&M alumnus, gave $50 million to create a scholarship fund for the Batten School, which will offer a bachelor’s degree in coastal and marine sciences.

About a year prior, in March 2024, W&M received a $30 million gift from an anonymous alumna to support the renovation and renaming of a building in honor of former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who’s serving his second term as the university’s chancellor.

In May 2024, Hampden-Sydney College and Shenandoah University both announced $20 million gifts. Hampden-Sydney said it would put Richmond-based Endeavour Legacy Foundation’s pledged $20 million — the second largest gift the college has ever received — toward renovating its former science center into an academic facility housing two departments. Shenandoah University will use Wilbur and Clare Dove’s pledged gift — the largest individual donation in its history — toward building a performing and visual arts center on its Winchester campus. The Doves have been supporters of the university before, previously creating an endowed scholarship and donating toward the construction of residence halls.

In Southwest Virginia, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise announced an $11.2 million donation from The Bill Gatton Foundation in November 2024. The gift from the Bristol-based foundation of the late Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, a businessman who owned the Gatton Automotive Group with dealerships in Kentucky and Tennessee, will create six endowed funds.

George Mason University announced in May 2024 a $5 million donation from the Peterson Family Foundation (the family behind real estate development firm Peterson Cos.) to support its Center for the Arts improvement project. The Fairfax public university planned to rename and renovate its Concert Hall auditorium. In 2015, the foundation gave George Mason $10 million.

Additionally, the Peterson Family Foundation donated to health care causes in 2024. Inova Health System announced a $20 million gift from the Peterson foundation in April 2024, including $15 million to support the Inova Life with Cancer program. The remaining $5 million is going toward the expansion of Inova Fairfax Hospital’s emergency room. The Peterson family have been ardent supporters of Inova, contributing more than $50 million over the past 30 years. In 2014, the family donated $10 million, the health system’s first eight-figure gift.

The Falls Church-based regional health system had received another generous gift a month prior. Inova announced a $10 million planned gift commitment from Win Sheridan, co-founder of Apex Systems, in March 2024. The gift supports Inova’s Greatest Needs fund, which was being applied toward the expansion of Inova Fairfax Hospital’s emergency room.

Last year, Carilion Clinic received its largest ever donation: $25 million from former Advance Auto Parts CEO Nicholas Taubman, also a past U.S. ambassador to Romania, and his wife, Jenny, to help establish the Carilion Taubman Cancer Center. The Roanoke-based nonprofit health care system announced the donation in July 2024. The seven-story facility will be located at Carilion’s Riverside Campus.

Virginians’ donations to education and health care entities over the last 12 months continued trends from previous years while growing to break single-gift records for multiple organizations.