Extending a lifetime of contributions to Stanford, John Arrillaga makes new gift to campus

John Arrillaga's $151 million gift to Stanford is only the latest in a long history of extraordinary contributions to the university. The gift is the university's largest ever from a living donor. (Photo: Stanford University)

Stanford alumnus, friend and benefactor John Arrillaga, '60, has made a gift of $151 million to the university. The gift, which will be used over time to support a variety of university projects, is Stanford's largest single gift ever from a living individual.

It is only the latest in a long line of Arrillaga's extraordinary contributions to Stanford. The Arrillaga family name graces many buildings across the campus, and the family's endowed scholarships support nearly 50 Stanford students each year.

"John is a true friend to Stanford, combining extraordinary generosity with unwavering service," said Stanford President John Hennessy. "He brings his professional expertise to each project, and our entire community has benefited from his vision, attention to detail and passion for Stanford University."

Arrillaga first arrived at Stanford in 1955 on a basketball scholarship and worked multiple jobs at a time to help pay for his education. His commitment to Stanford, enthusiasm for Cardinal athletics and expertise in the field of real estate development have led Arrillaga to give back to Stanford over and over, in multiple ways, over the ensuing decades.

A previous Arrillaga gift of $100 million in 2006 was the university's largest single gift from a living individual at that time. His generosity and expertise are reflected in the Arrillaga Family Sports Center, the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation, the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, the Arrillaga Family Dining Commons, the Graduate Community Center, the Physics and Astrophysics Building, the rebuilt Stanford Stadium and many other facilities to which he has contributed anonymously.

The undesignated nature of Arrillaga's newest gift is common, said Martin Shell, Stanford's vice president for development. "Stanford often receives significant contributions from donors that are not initially directed but are allocated over time in conversation with the donors," Shell said. "We are grateful to the Arrillaga family for its tremendous ongoing commitment to Stanford and its students."

In today's edition of Stanford Report, Arrillaga's daughter, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, an alumna, philanthropic entrepreneur and lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, provides a personal perspective on her father, his relationship with Stanford and his decades of generosity.

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