Douglas Foundation Makes $1 Million Gift to Support Kirk Douglas Hall
St. Lawrence University has received a $1 million gift from the Douglas Foundation to support the long-term maintenance and care of Kirk Douglas Hall, the residence and community hub named for the legendary actor and philanthropist, Class of 1939.
“My father never forgot where he came from—or the university that took a chance on him when he had little more than hope and determination,” says actor and philanthropist Michael Douglas. “Kirk Douglas Hall represents not just his legacy, but the ideals he held dear: grit, opportunity, and the power of education to change a life.”
When Kirk Douglas first arrived at St. Lawrence, he had hitchhiked from his hometown of Amsterdam, N.Y., finishing the trip in the back of a manure truck. That chance encounter with the dean changed the trajectory of his life and, through decades of philanthropy, the lives of many others.
Completed in 2014, Kirk Douglas Hall anchors the Richard F. Brush ’52 University Quad and serves as a vibrant center for student life. Its Spartacus Café, named in homage to one of Douglas’s most iconic roles, has become a favorite gathering spot.
“Anything that bears his name, we want to have in the best light and up to the highest standards,” says Kim Morey, administrator of the Douglas Foundation.
Throughout his life, Douglas—who passed away in 2020 at age 103—credited education as his path out of poverty. The scholarship endowment he and Anne Douglas established in 1998 continues to expand access for underserved students to attend St. Lawrence.
“We are grateful for the Douglas Foundation’s continued trust in St. Lawrence,” says President Kate Morris. “It is a point of pride to be part of the incredible legacy that Kirk and Anne Douglas built to support generations to come.”
