Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

I am writing to you with a historic announcement. William S. Dietrich II, a Pittsburgh industrialist and longtime trustee of Carnegie Mellon University, has announced a plan to provide a record-breaking gift of a $265 million fund to support CMU.

This is the largest gift in the university's history and it will have real impact across CMU for years to come.

The gift furthers the university's ability to educate students in strong interdisciplinary problem-solving and supports the unique recipe for education offered by Carnegie Mellon's seven schools and colleges, all of which are leaders in their fields.

In recognition of the fund Mr. Dietrich is creating, we are also naming H&SS the Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, to honor the memory of Mr. Dietrich's mother.

Mr. Dietrich believes in the people of CMU, and in all you discover, create, invent, and give to the world.

You and all of those who came before you at CMU are the reason for this wonderful vote of confidence in the university, and for all the ongoing support from alumni and friends in our fundraising campaign, Inspire Innovation.

For more information about this historic announcement, please go to: www.cmu.edu/dietrich

Naturally, we are celebrating.

There will be a live announcement today at 11 am by the Fence, which will be streamed online at: www.cmu.edu/event/sept7/

At 2 pm, you can stop by the tent by the Fence to pick up a special commemorative gift, and at 4:30 pm, there will be a special surprise at the Student Activities Fair.

The grand finale comes at 8 pm, when the band Guster performs free on the Mall, rain or shine.

It will be a truly great day for the university.

Thank you for all you do for CMU, and please join me in celebrating this historic announcement!

Sincerely,

Jared L. Cohon, President