Gift of $2 Million to UR Chaplaincy

The Weinstein family has a long history of supporting the University of Richmond. Their latest gift of $2 million to the Chaplaincy will encourage students to embrace a life of meaning, ethics, and purpose at Richmond and beyond.

With the most recent gift, Marcus and Carole Weinstein and Allison Weinstein and Ivan Jecklin have established the Weinstein-Jecklin Family Endowment: Journeys of Faith and Ethics in a Global Society to support initiatives of the University of Richmond’s Chaplaincy. These initiatives are intended to expose students to fundamental questions of what it means to be human and how to encourage the humanity in others, advance social justice, explore interfaith engagements, and inspire students to pursue lives of purpose and responsible leadership in a global society.

The endowment will fund intensive domestic and international travel, practices of personal and social wellbeing, engagement with thought leaders and humanitarians, internships, and other forms of academic inquiry and expression.

“We hope this gift will have long term impact by addressing the existential questions: ‘Why are we here?’ ‘What is our purpose?’ ‘In what ways can we repair the world as individuals and as partners with diverse groups around the globe?’ ” said Carole Weinstein. “Our hope is that by traveling outward to learn about other cultures and inwardly to understand ourselves better, this endowment can be a force for good among Richmond students.”

“The Weinstein family are among the most dedicated and loyal supporters of our faculty and students, having provided generous financial support over many years to the University,” said University of Richmond President Ronald A. Crutcher. “They have a legacy of generosity at Richmond that has helped support our community in many ways and make our University what it is today.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to the Weinstein and Jecklin families for their extraordinary generosity, said UR Chaplain Craig Kocher. “Nothing is more important for the Chaplaincy than to encourage students to claim their own faithful paths while appreciating the sacred journeys of others. Among the great challenges facing our global society is the ability to engage meaningfully across lines of religious and cultural difference. This gift will ensure our students have that capacity.”