Michigan State University supporters have pledged $500,000 annually for five years to help pay President Kevin Guskiewicz's salary, providing the outside funding university officials sought when he announced he would stay at MSU in July.
An Oct. 26 fact sheet from Presidential Spartan Fund LLC identified the donors supporting the effort, which follows Guskiewicz's decision to reverse his planned departure for Clemson University.
Guskiewicz announced on July 6 that he would remain at MSU. His revised contract increased his annual base salary from about $1.03 million to $1.5 million.
At the time, MSU Board of Trustees Budget and Finance Committee Chair Sandy Pierce said the salary increase would not come from the university's general fund and that
outside funding was being pursued.
The Presidential Spartan Fund will contribute $500,000 annually to MSU's Executive Office of the President. Each donor has agreed to contribute up to $25,000 a year for five years, according to the fact sheet.
The fund was organized by MSU alumni Ben Maibach and Alan Ross, along with other university supporters. Maibach is a co-chair of MSU's "Uncommon Will, Far Better World" fundraising campaign.
"Attracting and retaining talented leaders requires the support of both students and donors," Maibach said in a news release. "Iām grateful to the Spartans who stepped up to show their support for MSU and believe that our future is brighter than ever before."
Maibach helped establish the fund and covered its administrative costs but is not contributing to the fund itself, according to the fact sheet.
The donors listed are:
- Gerald and Julie Abraham
- Bob Blinstrub
- Ann Burnett
- Craig Bush
- Beth Chappell
- Bonnie Larson
- James E. Forrest
- Phil Hickey
- Ray Howard
- Alan Kaufman
- Jordan Main
- Todd Moilanen
- Chad Munger and Tracy Hickman
- Tom Nihra
- Joan Secchia Novak
- Linda Orlans
- Alan Ross
- Tom Stover
- Herb Washington
- Jim Williams
Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU supporters pledge $500K annually to help pay president's salary
