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University Communications

Weinstein Family Makes Additional $3 Million Gift to UR -- Underwriting Entire Cost of New Social Sciences Building

May 11, 2002

A new gift of $3 million from the Weinstein family to the University of Richmond raises the total contributions by the long-time Richmond family and their friends to $12 million to underwrite the entire cost of a new social sciences building currently under construction at the campus and endow a student scholarship fund. The new social sciences building will be named in the Weinstein family's honor.

"The Weinstein family's generous gift will pay dividends in learning for generations to come," said University of Richmond President William E. Cooper. "Our students and faculty, as well as the local community, will benefit greatly from the facilities and programs that the Weinsteins are funding."

Marcus and Carole Weinstein, their daughter, Allison, and son-in-law, Ivan Jecklin, together donated $7 million toward the project in June 2001. At groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building last October, the university announced additional gifts totaling $2 million, including $1 million from Philip D. Weinstein, brother of Marcus, $500,000 from Allison Weinstein and Jecklin, and $250,000 each from Mr. and Mrs. Jay R. Weinberg and Mr. and Mrs. Claude R. Davenport. The Weinbergs and Davenports are close friends and business associates of Marcus Weinstein.

"It gives my family and me great pleasure to make this additional gift, which will complete Weinstein Hall," said Marcus Weinstein. "We consider these educational gifts to be investments in the future of our young people."

Weinstein Hall is scheduled to open for classes in fall 2003. The facility will house the journalism, political science, rhetoric-communication studies and sociology-anthropology departments. The campus Speech Center will move to new quarters in the building, where new debate and integrative journalism centers will be created.

The building also will serve as headquarters of the planned Richmond Research Institute, which will connect the university to the city of Richmond and surrounding counties. Professors and students involved with the institute will provide research and expertise to policymakers in state government, Washington and other capitals.