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HWS Colleges Celebrate Record $70 Million Donation

Staff Report / FLXlocal.org

**Hobart and William Smith Colleges Receive Historic $70 Million Gift**

GENEVA, N.Y. — Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) have announced a record-breaking gift of $70 million, the largest donation in the institution's history. The historic contribution comes from the late Trustee L. Thomas Melly ’52 and Judith Hershey Melly, reflecting the couple's deep connection and longstanding commitment to the colleges.

L. Thomas Melly, an alumnus of Hobart College with a degree in economics, was a devoted supporter of HWS throughout his life. He served as a longtime member of the Board of Trustees and held the role of Trustee Chair Emeritus. Melly's wish was for the transformative gift to help create opportunities for students in need and to bolster the future of the colleges.

“It is my hope that this gift will make the future bright for Hobart and William Smith,” Melly shared in an interview prior to his passing in December. “I want to put this money to good use to benefit students who need it. I believe in the leadership of Hobart and William Smith and in the vision that Mark Gearan has created. That kind of leadership warrants our support."

The donation signifies a lasting legacy for the Melly family at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and reinforces the institution's ability to support its students and programs.

Source: Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Source Type: College

Source Location: Geneva

Feb 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM

College