NC State receives $40M gift, largest in history

Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina State University received a $40 million gift on Friday, the largest donation in the school's history, according to Chancellor Randy Woodson.

About $37 million of the money, which was donated by Lonnie and Carol Johnson Poole, will fund an endowment to support N.C. State’s College of Management – renamed The Lonnie C. Poole Jr. College of Management.

The endowment will support development of new programs, student scholarships and fellowships, faculty research and other college development activities.

“This endowment will enable us to advance the college to a new era by expanding and complementing our focus on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and globalization with a new, strong emphasis in the area of sustainability,” said Ira Weiss, dean of the college.

The Pooles’ gift includes $2.5 million to fund The Carol Johnson Poole Club House at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course on N.C. State's Centennial Campus.

About $500,000 of the gift will be used to fund The Carol Johnson Poole Endowment for Humanities and Social Sciences at N.C. State.

“With this transformational gift, it’s a new day for N.C. State,” Woodson said. “Today, we send a signal to the rest of the state and to the country that N.C. State University is prepared to compete on the highest national levels."

Lonnie Poole is the founder of Raleigh-based Waste Industries USA, Inc. and a long-time supporter of N.C. State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1959.

He is a member and vice chairman of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina State University Foundation and also provided a naming gift for the university’s golf course.

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His dad gave him strong work ethics and a great road to the future. Oh and in Auburn if you needed help the Pooles were the first at your front door helping you if they knew you needed help. Maybe Lonnie Jr wants a way to help people who want to better themselves. And how do you know he didn't give money to help people with heating bills this winter? He probably did.

maybelle
December 20, 2010 4:01 p.m.

"If the "less than intelligent" people who were "less than smart" enough to give 40 million to NC State, really wanted to make a difference, they would have ensured that this 40 mil would have paid the heating bill for those who will freeze this winter."

This is a gift that will keep on giving, and producing wealth, not just keep someone warm one winter. By the logic of this protest, there would be no advancement, just subsistence.

There is a place for charity, and a place for endeavoring to rise to new heights.

As for naming rights, that's a perk and a right and an honor. He must adore his wife.

As for his CHARITY, I'm sure it exists, as he pleases to do with his money that he earned.

djofraleigh
December 17, 2010 6:53 p.m.

WXYZ - It is Waste Industries not Waste Management. There is a big difference between these two companies.

I was fortunate to work down the hall from him for 10 years. He is definitely a "what you see is what you get" kind of man. He was always generous with his employees and always referred to us as family. He insisted that we call the main operations center the "home" office not the corporate office. He valued and treated each of us the same whether you were an driver or a VP.

“This endowment will enable us to advance the college to a new era by expanding and complementing our focus on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and globalization with a new, strong emphasis in the area of sustainability,” said Ira Weiss, dean of the college. Mr.Poole and Dean Weiss "get it". China "gets it". I just hope the rest of us in education wake up and "get it" soon.

Thank you to Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Ted Turner, and now Lonnie Poole.

jantart
December 17, 2010 6:13 p.m.

If the "less than intelligent" people who were "less than smart" enough to give 40 million to NC State, really wanted to make a difference, they would have ensured that this 40 mil would have paid the heating bill for those who will freeze this winter. That's right, they don't care for those less fortunate, only that their name appear on a building on campus. That would never happen just by paying for heat.

dwr1964
December 17, 2010 6:02 p.m.

Good for NC State. 37 more of those and they'll have caught up with us at Chapel Hill. :-D