LSU Donor Stories

Our generous donors are making a difference.

Richard Spies

Richard Spies

Richard Spies, a 1975 chemical engineering graduate, spent his life dropping pinpoints along the U.S. map as his family’s involvement with the U.S. Air Force moved them from Chicago, where Spies was born; to California; then Arkansas; then Alabama; then north to Michigan; and then finally Louisiana, where he and his family settled in Bossier City. Read more

Early Childhood Education

Diane and Henry Goyette

After spending her career educating young children, one alum felt compelled to gift $5 million to Louisiana State University’s Early Childhood Education Institute. Learn how you can leave a legacy and support your passions at LSU. Read more

Dr. Charles M. Smith

Dr. Charles M. Smith

Not only was Dr. Charles Smith a beloved family medicine practitioner, but he also created a legacy that has fostered transformative, collaborative advancements in the diagnosis of disease, cancer therapy and quality treatment. Read more

Wake, Christopher and Jennifer D'Elia

Chris and Jennifer D'Elia

In memory of their son, LSU College of the Coast & Environment Dean Christopher D'Elia and his wife, Jennifer, made leadership gifts to benefit future students and future deans. Read more

Martin Haymon

Martin Haymon

Martin Haymon, a 1971 alumnus of LSU's flagship campus, is taking what he calls a team approach with his donation to LSU. Haymon has created a planned gift that offers wide-ranging support for the university. Read more

Lyttleton Harris

Lyttleton "Lyt" Harris IV

LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business alumnus and Baton Rouge native, Lyttleton "Lyt" Harris IV strengthened his commitment to student success when he announced a $2.5 million planned gift benefiting LSU marketing students. Read more

Jackie Wintle and Lillian Hoover

Jackie Wintle and Lillian Hoover

LSU Alumnae Lillian Hoover and Jackie Wintle (Human Sciences & Education, '56 and '62, respectively) are making the most of their support of the LSU School of Library & Information Sciences through planned gifts. Read more

Max Conrad

Max Conrad

Landscape Architecture Professor Max Conrad (Agriculture, '61) made an endowed planned gift to fund the Robert S. Reich Memorial Graduate Assistantship Fund within the LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture. Read more

Alligator

Jack Van Lopik

Louisiana Sea Grant, housed at LSU, dives into the most challenging ecological, economic and social issues facing the southern coast—and gives communities the power to adapt to and rise above them. Its establishment at LSU is credited to the vision and efforts of the late Jack Van Lopik (1929-2015), and his generous estate gift will continue his legacy as a key player in Louisiana Sea Grant's mission and a pioneer in coastal research. Read more

Loy and Jeannie Lorre

Loy R. "Pug" and Jeannie Lorren

More than six decades after meeting on campus, Loy R. "Pug" (Business, '63) and Jeannie Lorren have established a sizable endowment through their estate to recruit in-state students to the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business. Read more

Dr. Stephen Bensman

Dr. Stephen Bensman

The late scholar and retired LSU librarian Dr. Stephen Bensman empowered LSU Libraries to build a unique collection of Southern Jewish history and cultural materials. Read more

Mark and Rebecca Hefter

Mark and Rebecca Hefter

Mark and Rebecca Hefter, alumni of LSU's College of Humanities & Social Sciences were inspired to pledge a $1 million unrestricted, endowed estate gift to the college. Read more

Harvey and Betty Schwartzberg

Harvey and Betty Schwartzberg

The LSU Foundation is proud to recognize Sue and Donald Crow and Harvey and Betty Schwartzberg as its 2016 Leave a Legacy nominees. Read more

Sue and Donald Crow

Sue and Donald Crow

The LSU Foundation is proud to recognize Sue and Donald Crow and Harvey and Betty Schwartzberg as its 2016 Leave a Legacy nominees. Read more

Scott and Terre Allen

Scott and Terre Allen

Scott and Terre Allen believe that a full education must include learning an appreciation for the arts. Read more

Roy Gerard

Roy Gerard

In 1988, retired Vice President of Shell Oil Roy Gerard established an endowed undergraduate scholarship in chemical engineering. Now it's valued at nearly $1 million. Read more

Phil and Kimberly Adra

Phil Adra

Phil Adra got creative with his giving and purchased a life insurance policy with LSU as the owner and beneficiary. Read more

Judy Mayo and Sid Aaron

Dr. Sid Aaron and Judy Mayo

Dr. Charles "Sid" Aaron and his wife, Judy K. Mayo, created a professorship in honor of LSU College of Science professor emeritus Dr. William "Bill" Lee. Read more

Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan's planned gift will provide care and maintenance for Tiger Band students' instruments. Read more

Cpl. Germaine Laville

Dr. John Scharfenberg and Mrs. Ann Laville Scharfenberg

Dr. John Scharfenberg and Mrs. Ann Laville Scharfenberg honor Ann's sister, Cpl. Germaine Laville.  Read more

Betty Van Norman

Betty Van Norman

Betty Van Norman is helping aspiring engineers to forge their own path through a generous estate gift.  Read more

Audrey Engelhart

Audrey Engelhart

The late Audrey Engelhart continues her lifelong passion for saving animals through a bequest.  Read more

roselyn b boneno

Roselyn B. Boneno

When she wrote the acknowledgments of her dissertation, Roselyn B. Boneno used the words of poet Walt Whitman to exemplify the task of writing...  Read more

mary lou applewhite

Dr. Mary Lou Applewhite

Dr. Mary Lou Applewhite, long-time benefactor and former Development Council Chair, has made a $300,000 gift in the form of a charitable...  Read more

susan m buzick

Susan M. Buzick

To say that Ms. Susan Marshall Buzick is a cat lover is truly an understatement. Everywhere you turn in her house is a statue, painting...  Read more

chester p seiss

Chester P. Seiss

Chester P. Siess, LSU graduate and former Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering established a bequest to support and benefit programs...  Read more

lillian k hoover

Lillian K. Hoover

Lillian K. Hoover is a Charter Member of the 1860 Society, a prestigious...  Read more

bob dotty stuart

Bob and Dotty Stuart

Bob and Dotty Stuart have established a charitable gift annuity for the...  Read more

herbet wiener

Herbert Wiener

There was nothing special about that day in May 2006 when the LSU Foundation received a letter with a Santa Cruz postmark. But what was in...  Read more

elizabeth rhodes holloway

Elizabeth Rhodes Holloway

Elizabeth Rhodes Holloway's career has taken her far from her roots on Kenmore Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish near Maringouin, Louisiana...  Read more

henson carolyn moore

Henson and Carolyn Moore

Former U.S. Congressman Henson Moore will return to his academic roots...  Read more

John and Kathryn Creed

John and Kathryn Creed have recently funded their second Charitable Gift Annuity which will benefit both the College of Engineering and the School of Law.  Read more