aerial view of westhampton lake

Supporting future Spiders

February 13, 2023

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Spider graduates may leave campus, but they never leave the web. This is especially true for one 1951 grad, who decided to make a lasting impact on his alma mater with a $500,000 gift last fall. 

The Richmond College alum, who prefers to remain anonymous, received scholarship support all four years he was on campus. After graduating, he was drafted into military service. “I got a free trip to Korea, as well as thankfully a trip back home,” he laughed. As he built his career, he became a loyal supporter of Richmond, making $100-150 contributions for more than 30 years. 

In 2022, as he was estate planning, he decided it was time to increase his generosity. “I prefer to make significant philanthropic donations while I’m still alive and able to see the impact of my gift,” he said. So, in September, he contacted Richmond’s Advancement office and found out that his former scholarship, the I.B. Lake Scholarship, still exists. After hanging up, he wrote a check and mailed it the next day. 

“I was very happy to direct money to the Lake fund; it seemed like a reasonable thing to do,” he said. “I hope that by contributing, I will be able to positively effect students’ lives.”

The I.B. Lake Scholarship was named in honor of Dr. I.B. Lake, a Southern Baptist clergyman who had affiliations with several churches in Northern Virginia, including Upperville Baptist Church, where he was buried after his death in 1922.

“I was deeply moved when I heard about this gift,” said President Kevin Hallock. “It’s a vivid reminder of the incredible impact gifts of financial support can have on our students, past, present, and future. I am profoundly grateful to our alumni who aspire to make a Richmond education more affordable and accessible for all Spiders.”