Judy and Tom Melly have given $70 million to Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
It’s the largest donation not only to HWS, but to any higher-education institution in Western New York, according to the Colleges.
HWS President Mark Gearan announced that HWS has received a “transformational” $70 million gift from the late longtime trustee, a Hobart graduate, and his wife, Judy.
HWS said the gift “will impact generations of students, faculty and staff, driving academic innovation, expanding access and affordability for students, and supporting strategic initiatives.”
The gift by the Mellys is one of the largest contributions to a college or university in 2024, HWS noted.
Further, said HWS, it is the largest ever to a higher-education institution in western New York, including universities in Rochester and Buffalo.
