The College of the Holy Cross has received the single largest donation in its 170-year history, $25 million, from its alumni Cornelius Neil B. Prior Jr., to build a Performing Arts Facility.
Prior Jr., a member of the college's advisory board, was a 1956 graduate of the Roman Catholic college. He then went to Harvard Law School.
Holy Cross President, Rev. Philip Boroughs, said that this gift represents a new beginning for the college and recognises the importance of study and experience of the arts in a students' life.
"I appreciate this recognition of the gift that I am able to make thanks in great part to the great education I got here and little bit from Harvard later on, Prior told Boston. "The arts give you that joyous feeling... It elevates you. At the same time you're having fun, you're experiencing another dimension."
Prior Jr., 79, lives in St. Thomas on the U.S. Virgin Islands and is serving as a chairman of the board of Beverly-based telecommunications services company, Atlantic Tel-Network Inc.
His father is also a graduate (1923) of Holy Cross and currently his grandson Benjamin Ritter is a freshman at the college.
The campus already has performance centers that include Brooks Concert Hall, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery and Fenwick Theatre.
This gift to Holy Cross is not the first for Prior Jr. In 1998, he donated $5-million to establish one professorship each in fine arts, history and humanities. This was the largest donation to Holy Cross. Later, Prior Jr., contributed another $5-million in 2006 for the expansion of the 50th class reunion.
