Rice Receives $5 Million Gift from Jamail Family

Contact: Michael Cinelli
Phone: (713) 831-4794
E-Mail: mcinelli@rice.edu

RICE RECEIVES $5 MILLION GIFT FROM JAMAIL FAMILY

Rice University received a $5 million, five-year
gift from Lee and Joseph D. Jamail today, with the first installment of the
contribution helping to fund major initiatives in nanoscale science and
computational engineering.

The Jamails designated $1 million this year for the Center for Nanoscale
Science and Technology (CNST) and for computational engineering. Both of these
programs will receive $500,000 this year.

During the next four years, the Jamails will consult with university
officials to determine where the remaining $4 million should be applied.

“Lee and Joe Jamail’s gift to Rice has great meaning to us because of our
admiration and respect for the donors,” said President Malcolm Gillis. “Their
truly generous gift will play a material role in positioning Rice to meet the
challenges posed by the next century. Through their generosity, we are able to
press forward in the exploration of highly promising new and emerging
disciplines, and to consolidate our strengths in others. We are immensely
pleased to be among the select institutions chosen by Lee and Joe Jamail to
receive these gifts.”

Lee Jamail serves as a trustee of the Rice Board of Governors. She is a
long-time supporter of higher education, having served on the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board from 1983-89, acting as chair of its Health Affairs
Committee.

The Jamail donation to Rice was part of a $17 million philanthropic gift
package to seven institutions in Houston and Austin, including The University of
Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The Museum of Fine Arts in
Houston, Baylor Medical School and The Jamail Foundation.

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