The University of Virginia Darden School of Business has announced a $44 million commitment from alumni David M. LaCross (BS’74, MBA’78) and his wife, Kathleen O. LaCross (BA’76).

Coupled with $6 million in matching funds from the university, the gift amounts to $50 million in support of three priorities of the school’s ongoing capital campaign: faculty excellence and thought leadership, student experience, and grounds and infrastructure. The couple’s gift includes a $6.5 million bequest in support of a proposed Darden research center or initiative on artificial intelligence, $18 million in current funding to endow and name the dean’s chair at Darden, a $20.5 million lead gift and seed funding to launch construction of on-grounds quality residential housing, and $5 million to name the botanical gardens, which is slated for completion in 2023. 

“I’m so grateful to Dave and Kathy LaCross for their extraordinary generosity in supporting the Darden School now and for generations to come,” said UVA president Jim Ryan. “With these visionary investments, Dave and Kathy strengthen faculty research, leadership, the student experience and critical facilities at Darden.”

“My desire to give back starts with my strong belief in the power of the case method to develop and inspire responsible leaders who will improve the world,” said David LaCross. “I recognized well before graduating that I owed a tremendous debt to Darden for its effective use of the case method, an extraordinary faculty that knew how to get the most out of a class, and my classmates. I hoped from the outset that I would be in a position to give something back someday.”

(Photo credit: Sanjay Suchak)