Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, has announced gifts totaling $1 million from the Dan and Sheryl Tishman Family Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to create a scholarship fund for low-income students.

A $500,000 pledge from the Tishman Family Foundation was matched by the Gates Foundation to help support up to twenty-five low-income students annually who are pursuing studies in sustainability, nature conservation, or business. "The investment by the Tishman Family Foundation, along with the matching Gates Foundation grant, will support students from the widest range of backgrounds in completing their degrees today, tomorrow, and long into the future," said Evergreen State president Les Purce.

Dan Tishman, a 1977 Evergreen graduate, is chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction, one of New York City's leading construction companies, and chairman of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the world's leading environmental advocacy organizations.

"Sheryl and I are so pleased that this pledge will create opportunities for Evergreen students for years to come," said Tishman. "I am especially proud to make this investment to support students at my alma mater, Evergreen, a college that allowed me to explore my passion for sustainability and nature conservation, which ultimately developed into a lifelong commitment."