Lulu and Anthony Wang, who are active supporters of a number of New York-based philanthropic colleges, have given $25 million to Massachusetts' Wellesley College, university officials report.

The Wang's gift is believed to be the largest single private donation to a women's college. The $25 million -- to help build a new campus center -- also is the inaugural gift of Wellesley's new $400 million capital campaign.

"As women become an increasingly powerful philanthropic force, this extraordinary gift sets a new threshold for giving by women for women. We hope the Wellesley example will inspire many more women to give generously to institutions, organizations...," Wellesley President Diana Chapman Walsh said.

This campaign will be the largest ever for a women's college, double the five-year, $200 million campaign for Mount Holyoke College. It comes eight years after Wellesley's $168 million campaign, which was a record amount at the time.

Lulu Wang, founder and chief executive officer of Tupelo Capital Management in New York, is a Wellesley alumna, graduating in 1966. She also has served on the school's board of trustees since 1988, and is a founder and past president of Wellesley's Business Leadership Council.

Anthony Wang is the former president and chief operating officer of Computer Associates International, retiring in 1992.

The Wangs are active supporters of groups including the American Museum of Natural History, New York Community Trust, public radio station WNYC, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.wellesley.edu/PublicAffairs/Releases/
2000/041600.html