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2/7/02

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY RECEIVES LARGEST GIFT EVER -- $10 MILLION

CANTON - St. Lawrence University announced today that it has received 
the largest gift in its history, $10 million from Trustee Sarah E. 
Johnson, Class of 1982, of Hillsborough, California. The gift will be 
in support of the improvement of science facilities at St. Lawrence.
	A comprehensive science facilities planning process has been 
on-going at the University for the past three years. The plan calls for 
a four-phase, 10-year project that includes new construction and 
extensive renovation. Johnson's gift will be dedicated toward Phase I 
of the project, planned to be construction of a building to house the 
biology program and possibly to include other science programs, depending 
on future design of the project. The facility will be named for Johnson. 
A construction start date will be decided after further architectural 
planning is completed.  
	A trustee since 1999, Johnson owns and acts as CEO of Spike and 
Annie, LLC, a Burlingame, California-based children's clothing manufacturer 
and retailer. She is also involved with several other businesses 
including real estate development, oil and gas exploration, adventure 
travel, and theatre production. She formerly worked as a principal for 
Franklin Templeton, in San Mateo, California. She held the title of 
operations manager until 1986 and then was portfolio manager of the 
Franklin Income Fund until 1990. She has also been involved with a 
significant number of charitable organizations in the San Francisco 
area. Johnson earned her St. Lawrence degree in biology and has been 
an active volunteer for the University, as a career advisor and in 
fund-raising.
	"I am looking forward to the design and construction phases of 
this much-needed science facility. I feel blessed to be able to play 
a part in the dramatic metamorphosis of our campus under the direction 
of our ever-energetic President Daniel F. Sullivan. St. Lawrence 
University continues to thrive under his leadership and will be ranked 
among the best institutions of higher learning in our great country," 
said Johnson.
	Accepting the gift, President Sullivan said, "Sarah E. Johnson's 
gift, which goes to the very heart of the enterprise of a liberal arts 
university, ensures that we can begin the first phase of our comprehensive 
science facilities improvement program on schedule, recognizes and gives 
a powerful boost to our outstanding programs in science and mathematics, 
and literally turns on the afterburner of a University that is already 
engaged in dynamic, positive change. St. Lawrence students for generations 
to come will feel the effect of this gift, an act of truly abiding 
generosity and understanding of the nature and character of St. Lawrence, 
and of how strategic philanthropy can transform an already great 
University. All Laurentians are deeply, deeply grateful."	
	Prior to Johnson's gift, the largest donation made to the 
University was a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor. The University 
is in the midst of a capital campaign, which has a goal of $130 million 
by the end of this year. To date, over $117 million has been raised.
	St. Lawrence is also half-way into a 10-year Master Plan that 
reflects support for excellence across the curriculum, a commitment 
to the quality and increased size of the faculty, a focus on well-balanced, 
learning-centered campus life and an historic investment in renovated 
and new facilities.
  
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