May 13, 2004
WRF donation to help create Simpson endowed chair
The Washington Research Foundation has committed to donate $5 million to the UW as the first founding donor in a new matching program designed to stimulate increased giving to the University.
Part of the money will be used to provide seed funding for an endowed chair in bioengineering in honor of WRF founder, former UW regent and longtime Seattle business executive W. Hunter Simpson and his wife, Dottie.
“Hunter and Dottie are among the University’s most energetic and vocal supporters and there is no better way for us to honor their contribution to the University and WRF than to have a chair named in their honor,” said Ron Howell, president of Research Foundation. Simpson was the leading force in the creation of the nonprofit, independent foundation more than 20 years ago.
The W. Hunter and Dorothy L. Simpson Endowed Chair in Bioengineering will receive funding of $500,000 from the WRF and $500,000 from University local fund balances, which includes revenue from royalty funds.
“It is our hope that friends of Hunter and the University will join us in this matching effort by donating an additional $1 million to $1.5 million,” Howell said.
