Claremont McKenna College To Double Campus Footprint With Help Of $140 Million Donation

Claremont McKenna College announced on Friday that it was planning to double its campus footprint with the assistance of a historic $140 million gift from alumnus and trustee George R. Roberts.

The college said it anticipated that the mega gift would generate additional private investments with the promise of matching gifts that would be made by other donors,

With the support of the Roberts’ gift, Claremont McKenna, which is annually ranked among the nation’s most prestigious liberal arts colleges, will add and develop about 75 acres for its Claremont, California campus.

According to the announcement, the expansion creates the opportunity for Claremont McKenna “to realize all its future academic, social, and residential opportunities.” Among the several projects supported by the Roberts gift are:

• Development of eight athletic and practice fields, a new aquatics center, golf practice range, and recreational area;
• Three pedestrian malls to encourage interaction, engagement, and public art; and
• Construction of academic and administrative buildings, expanded student apartments, and a Commencement Green.

In honor of Roberts’ gift, the Board of Trustees has decided to designate the entire campus east of Mills Avenue “The Roberts Campus.”

“Throughout its 75 years, CMC has continually endeavored to raise expectations. Whatever plateau we may have reached today, it is not about the hill we just climbed; it is about the next mountain we are about to ascend,” said Claremont McKenna President Hiram E. Chodosh as part of the announcement.

Calling his decision to attend Claremont McKenna “one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.” Roberts added, “I hope this gift enables CMC to ensure its place as the college for the future, and provides the education and experience to help deserving young people contribute and compete in the world of the future.”

This is just his latest major gift to Claremont McKenna. In 2012, he gave a $50 million unrestricted gift to the college, which in turn named its new fitness, events and athletic center “Roberts Pavilion” in his honor.

George Rosenberg Roberts is a 1966 graduate of Claremont McKenna. Along with Jerome Kohlberg and Henry Kravis, he co-founded the global investment firm KKR & Co, which, among other ventures, became known for the 1988 buyout of RJR Nabisco, detailed in the book “Barbarians At The Gate.” Forbes has pegged his net worth at more than $8 billion.

Claremont McKenna indicated that Roberts gift had brought its current capital campaign to a total of $916 million in donations.