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Unknown Donor Gives $2 Million to Program

Latest Gift Exceeds Loeb Theatre Grant

By Richard N. Levy

Two million dollars has been donated anonymously to the Program for Harvard College, officials of the drive announced yesterday.

The gift is the largest that has so far been contributed to the fund, surpassing by $500,000 the theatre gift by John L. Loeb '24 given in the spring of 1957. The donor would not divulge publicly any details of his gift.

This donation brings the Program's total to $50.3 million, with officials studying plans to procure other large gifts necessary to bring in the remaing $32 million. It is estimated that the current general alumni solicitation now only $2 million from its goal, will add another $10 milion to the drive's coffers.

President Pusey expressed confidence this week that the Program would reach its goal, noting that, although the drive has been disappointing in its large corporation gifts, it has received gifts from "unexpected" foundations.

New Sources Needed

Even if the drive reaches its goal, the President added, solicitation will probably continue after Commencement, 1959, the announced date of the drive's completion. Solicitation will be carried on, he said, for "those projects which are in the works" after June, i.e., those projects for which financing is not complete. The President also noted that the new chairman of the drive, H. Irving Pratt '26, has agreed to remain as chairman "into the autumn."

Pratt has urged alumni to extend their pledges from three to five years, enabling them to double their gifts. Many large gifts, however, are already pledged over this extended period, and so, Pratt notes, "we must find additional sources of support."

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