Real estate developers, professional sports team owners and alumni Stephen M. Ross and Dan Gilbert this week announced their intentions to donate $5 million each to Wayne State University Law School, for a joint gift of $10 million.
Both gifts represent the largest donations in the law school’s history.
Ross and Gilbert’s gifts will create the Benson Legacy Fund for Wayne Law and the Benson Endowed Enhancement Fund for Wayne Law.
Thw two men named the funds in recognition of Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson and her efforts as dean to elevate the law school’s national reputation and prestige.
“I am thrilled to have two of Wayne Law’s most successful and influential alumni unite to make this historic investment in the future of our law school,” Benson said. “It is an honor to count them both as members of the Wayne Law family; their accomplishments and leadership are an inspiration for our entire community.”
The gifts were announced Sept. 12, the same day Ross and Gilbert were inducted, along with 11 others, as part of the inaugural class of the Miller Family Wayne Law Alumni Wall of Fame. The wall of fame — the highest award presented by Wayne Law — is awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions they have made in their fields, or in the betterment of humanity, or to former faculty and staff who have had a significant impact on the law school.
The wall of fame was made possible through a gift from E. Powell Miller, class of 1986, last year.
Ross, class of 1965, and Gilbert, class of 1987, are among the numerous alumni Benson has engaged while dean to come back to the law school to network with students and the broader Wayne Law and campus community.
Ross, who has built a legacy of real estate development, philanthropy and NFL sports team ownership, participated in a special public conversation with Benson at the law school in April 2015 — his first visit to Wayne Law since his graduation — discussing his career and accomplishments of the past five decades.
He also was the special guest at the Wayne Law Reunion in October, marking the 50th anniversary of his graduating class.
Gilbert began moving his family of companies to Detroit’s central business district in 2010 to help lead Detroit’s transformation. He has invested more than $2.2 billion to buy and renovate more than 95 commercial properties in the city’s urban core. Thousands of jobs have been created, and today more than 15,000 Rock Ventures team members work in downtown Detroit.
Ross is chairman and founder of Related Companies, through which he developed the Time Warner Center in New York City. He also is owner of the Miami Dolphins and Sun Life Stadium.
Last year, he founded the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, a venture led by professional sports organizations and networks, including the NFL, NBA and ESPN, to improve race relations in America.
It was announced last week that Benson would step down this month after nearly four years as dean of the law school to serve as CEO of the Ross Initiative and as a special advisor on philanthropic investments to Ross.
Benson will continue her affiliation with Wayne Law as director of the Levin Center at Wayne Law and co-teaching a course on Legislative Oversight with former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.
Gilbert is chairman and founder of Quicken Loans Inc.; founder and chairman of Rock Ventures LLC; and majority owner of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
The gifts from Ross and Gilbert are part of Wayne State University’s $750 million Pivotal Moments fundraising campaign. Including their gifts, the campaign has raised more than $590 million. With their gifts, the law school has raised nearly $24 million of its $30 million goal for the campaign.
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