A Remarkable Gift to Support the College’s Highest Priorities

Dear Colby Community, 

I am delighted to announce that the College has received a remarkable $16-million gift from Trustee Marieke Rothschild P’16 and her husband, Jeff Rothschild P’16, in support of three of our highest priorities: financial aid, the arts, and health and wellness. This is the second major gift from the Rothschilds, who previously created a $4.5-million fund for financial aid. Their generosity and commitment to supporting students inspires and humbles me.

Five million dollars of their gift will be added to the Rothschild Family Endowed Financial Aid Fund to extend our capacity to enroll students from lower- and middle-income families. The same amount will support the construction of the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, and another $5 million will go to the new athletics and recreation center. The final $1 million of the gift will be directed to current-use needs through the Colby Fund over several years.

We have seen a dramatic shift in our student population in recent years because of the investments we have made in the Colby Commitment and the Fair Shot Fund—innovative programs that are designed to ensure Colby is one of the most affordable choices for the vast majority of families. This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of donors who are committed to opening our doors to the most deserving students regardless of their financial situations. This gift strengthens that commitment, and I could not be more grateful for it.

The Rothschilds’ support of the arts comes at the perfect time. The Gordon Center is the highest academic facility priority at Colby. Our goal is to be in construction later this year, but that timeline will only be met if we can garner additional support for this critical project. The Rothschilds have helped enormously to move us closer to construction, and I share in their hope that their gift will encourage others to direct resources to this transformative arts initiative.

Finally, the new athletics and recreation center is nearing completion, with an expected opening in August of this year. The Rothschilds appreciate how the center will be a vital location for healthy activities that span the spectrum of fitness training, recreational sports, and more formalized athletic contests. Here, too, they hope their gift will inspire others to support this project and complete the final tranche of fundraising needed.

I said in our formal announcement that this gift is magical. I truly believe that. Marieke and Jeff understand Colby and all that we are trying to do to strengthen this great College, and their goal is to make that possible. I am enormously grateful to them for their trust and support and for shaping this gift in a way that will have a meaningful impact on the entire community.

David A. Greene
President