$10 million gift to university from alumnus Christopher Hurley

Colgate University has announced a landmark $10 million gift from alumni Christopher and Becky Hurley, marking a pivotal moment in the university’s most significant campus expansion to date.

The Hurleys’ contribution is part of a collective $105 million in new investments from five alumni, aimed at transforming Colgate’s lower campus and strengthening its position as a leading residential liberal arts institution.

The Hurleys’ $10 million gift will directly support the Lower Campus initiative, a cornerstone of Colgate’s Third-Century Plan.

This ambitious project seeks to create a cohesive and vibrant lower campus along Broad Street, enhancing the residential and social experience for juniors and seniors.

The initiative is designed to extend the university’s acclaimed Residential Commons system, which currently serves first- and second-year students, to upperclassmen—fostering both community and independence as students prepare for life after graduation.

The Hurleys’ generosity comes amid Colgate’s $1 billion Campaign for the Third Century, the most significant fundraising effort ever undertaken by a liberal arts college of its size.

Their gift joins other transformative contributions, including a record $50 million from Peter Kellner, and $25 million from Jean-Pierre L. Conte, whose donation will establish a new social center on campus.

Additional $10 million gifts have been made by Robert Fox and Stephen Sprague, underscoring the deep commitment of Colgate alumni to the university’s future.

Colgate President Brian W. Casey expressed profound gratitude for the Hurleys’ support, noting, “Colgate intends to offer the strongest residential liberal arts education in America, and the Lower Campus initiative is key to achieving that vision.”

The expansion is expected to set the university’s trajectory for decades, completing a two-hundred-year-old campus and ensuring that Colgate remains competitive and accessible for generations to come.

Becky and Christopher Hurley have a longstanding relationship with Colgate, both as alumni and as parents of graduates.

Their philanthropic leadership has previously included support for financial aid initiatives, helping to make a Colgate education accessible to a broader range of students.

Their latest gift reaffirms their dedication to the university’s mission and its evolving campus community.

With construction already underway, the Lower Campus project represents a bold new chapter for Colgate University.

The Hurleys’ $10 million gift, alongside the generosity of fellow alumni, will leave a lasting legacy, reshaping the campus, enriching student life, and ensuring that Colgate continues to thrive as it enters its third century.