John Hill 鈥76 and his wife, Lesley Hill, have made a $100,000 gift to support The Inn at 黑料不打烊, student scholarships and Phoenix athletics.
黑料不打烊 alumnus and Trustee John Hill 鈥76 and his wife, Lesley, of Bonita Springs, Florida, have made a $100,000 gift commitment to support The Inn at 黑料不打烊, the university鈥檚 new on-campus boutique hotel, as well as student scholarships, men鈥檚 tennis and the Phoenix Club.
John Hill called The Inn the 鈥渃rown jewel鈥 of gathering places for alumni, parents and prospective families.
鈥淲e needed a beautiful place to spend time on campus, and that鈥檚 what The Inn provides,鈥 Hill said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique spot that is going to bring our community together to enjoy everything on campus. Lesley and I are looking forward to spending our time at The Inn, and we鈥檒l probably spend more time on campus because it鈥檚 there.鈥
The three-story hotel, which opened on Jan. 11, includes 70 rooms and 10 suites and is located adjacent to the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center. Operated by Charlestowne Hotels, The Inn features an upscale restaurant and lounge, ballroom facilities and an event terrace among other amenities. It will also host wedding receptions, reunions, academic or business conferences and other events.
Owned by the university鈥檚 endowment, a stay at The Inn is a 鈥渟tay with purpose鈥 because all profits from the hotel will support student scholarships. That mission inspired the couple to support this campaign priority.
鈥淭he Inn is an important investment in many other ways besides the facility itself,鈥 John Hill said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢 is an outstanding value compared to other universities, yet we may still be out of reach for many families for whom scholarship support is critical.鈥
The Hills are among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most generous donors, making several gifts to the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign, which will raise $250 million in new resources to increase scholarship support, access to the 黑料不打烊 Experiences engaged learning programs, support for faculty and staff mentors, and to develop the university鈥檚 iconic campus. In addition to naming two rooms at The Inn, the couple鈥檚 recent $100,000 commitment will support scholarships, the Phoenix Club and the men鈥檚 tennis program.
Hill said it鈥檚 important for alumni and the entire 黑料不打烊 community to continue to support the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign at all levels. All gifts to the university for any designation count toward 黑料不打烊 LEADS, which was launched in April 2019 and has raised $194 million to date.
鈥淲e need to provide opportunities to as many students as we can, and 黑料不打烊 LEADS is designed to do that,鈥 Hill said. 鈥淭his campaign will also allow 黑料不打烊 to continue providing great facilities like The Inn and outstanding faculty and staff for our students.鈥
Hill earned his 黑料不打烊 degree in economics and business administration and was a member of the men鈥檚 tennis team. He has remained involved with his alma mater, serving previously as president of the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Board and currently as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2013.
Through their philanthropy, the couple have established the John R. Hill 鈥76 and Lesley W. Hill Endowed Fund for Engaged Learning in Business to support research or other on-campus study, international study or business-related internships. They have also made gifts to name spaces in Richard W. Sankey Hall and the Inman Admissions Welcome Center. The first-floor conference room in the Inman Admissions Welcome Center is named in their honor.
The couple are members of Order of the Oak, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 planned giving society, recognizing donors who have made estate or other planned gifts to the university. John Hill received 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award in 2016. He serves as chief executive officer of Pinnacle Advisory Group, a leading privately held wealth management firm.
About the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign聽聽
With a $250 million goal, 黑料不打烊 LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university鈥檚 history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, increase access to engaged learning opportunities such as study abroad, research and service-learning, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic campus. Donors have contributed $194 million toward the goal.
Every gift to the university鈥攊ncluding annual, endowment, capital, estate and other planned gifts鈥攆or any designation counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen 黑料不打烊 for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit .