Bollinger Lauds Kluge's Gift to Columbia

The Columbia University President, Lee C. Bollinger, announced yesterday the $400 million gift to the university for financial aid from billionaire media entrepreneur John Werner Kluge.

"John's extraordinary gift, coupled with his earlier gifts, will help generations of Columbians," said Mr. Bollinger at a ceremony attended by Mr. Kluge, 92, a Columbia alumnus and longtime supporter of the Ivy League institution. "John's own life is a fulfillment of that American dream. ... He has chosen to direct his amazing generosity to ensuring that young people will have the chance to benefit from a Columbia education regardless of their wealth or family income."

Mr. Kluge, who attended Columbia on scholarship, has often credited the opportunity with helping him become a successful broadcast entrepreneur.

"I want to help ensure that Columbia will always be a place where the best and the brightest young people can come to develop their intellect, make something of their own lives and give something back to our communities, our country and our world," Mr. Kluge said in a statement.

Typically, large donations are made toward the construction of a new building or to endow a professorship.

In 2004, Mr. Kluge said, "I'd rather by far invest in people than buildings. If I can infuse a mind to improve itself, that'll pass on to their children, and to their children's children."

Austin Quigley, dean of Columbia College, who attended the ceremony with such dignitaries as Mayor Bloomberg and Rep. Charles Rangel, said Mr. Kluge's gift "will enable us, over a number of years, to adjust financial aid packages so that students receive more of their aid in grants and less in loans."

Citing the Chronicle of Higher Education, Columbia said Mr. Kluge's gift is the largest ever devoted exclusively to student aid.