The founder of Dell Computer Corp. and four other Dell executives and their spouses will give $13 million to the Austin Museum of Art's planned downtown home. This is the largest single private gift to any Central Texas arts group, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reports.

Michael Dell, founder and chief executive officer of Dell Computer, launched his company in a University of Texas dorm in 1984.

Dell Computer is now Austin's largest private employer and had $15.2 billion in revenues last year.

Dell and his wife, Susan, have shown their appreciation of the Austin community in recent years with donations of land and money to a variety of local groups. They launched the three-year-old Dell Foundation to support Central Texas community and children's groups.

The Dells were joined in the $13 million contribution by vice chairman Mort Topfer and his wife, Angela; vice chairman Kevin Rollins and his wife, Debbie; senior vice president Tom Green and his wife, Deborah; and senior vice president Tom Meredith and his wife, Lynn.

The downtown museum has $11.4 million in bond money already set aside. The Dell gift puts the museum almost halfway to a goal of $50 million; $35 million to build the museum and $15 million to endow it.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.austin360.com/news/001metro/10oct/27/27dellgift.htm