Jewish businessman and philanthropist Leslie Wexner and his company’s Limited Brands Foundation have donated $100 million to The Ohio State University.
Wexner, 73, will give the university $65 million and the foundation will provide $35 million. Most of the donation will go to the university’s academic medical center, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Money also will go to the Wexner Center for the Arts and other university initiatives, the university said in a statement.
Wexner, the chairman and chief executive officer of Limited Brands Inc., is a 1959 graduate of Ohio State.
Over the past 25 years, Wexner has given more than $500 million to philanthropic causes. The majority of his philanthropy has been focused on educating new leaders through the programs of The Wexner Foundation. In addition, he has made substantial gifts to the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Columbus Jewish Federation and several other philanthropic organizations.
“I’ve always believed that you have to do good while doing well,” said Wexner. “It’s not enough to succeed in business. You have to give back. Ohio State’s Medical Center and The James do critically important work. My hope is this gift can help save lives, and maybe even help to cure cancer. It is certainly within our grasp.”
