Esther and Don Davis Expand Support of UB with $600,000 Gift to Mini-Medical School

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Retired business executive and Western New York community leader Donald L. Davis and his wife Esther are building a healthier community through a $600,000 gift to the University at Buffalo for its mini-medical school, a highly popular public service program presented by the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Long-time benefactors of the university, the Davises have reached the $1 million mark in their support of UB with their most recent pledged gift.

"The mini-medical school fits our guidelines for benefiting the community as well as the university," said Esther Davis. "It has a very good format, builds on the strengths of the university and extends that knowledge to the community."

"The university is the greatest thing that has happened to our area," said Don Davis. "We wanted to do something that would benefit the entire community."

UB President William R. Greiner praised the Davises' long-time and ongoing support of the university.

"Esther and Don Davis are two of UB's most outstanding supporters," he added. "Their dedication to the university's community-education programming over the years is reflected in their support of our Distinguished Speakers Series, WBFO, and now, the mini-medical school.

"This latest gift will enable UB's mini-medical school to educate thousands of additional Western New York residents during the next 10 years," noted Greiner. "We are most grateful to them for their extraordinary generosity."

The Esther and Don Davis Fund will sponsor UB's mini-medical school -- a program that already has enjoyed much success with more than 2,000 "graduates" since its launch by the medical school in 1997 -- for the next 10 years. UB's mini-medical school -- one of 66 nationwide -- hosts about six programs a year. Each program is a series of lectures dealing with subjects traditionally covered in medical school, but geared to a general audience and based on the concept of helping people understand the science behind the medicine.

Harry Sultz, former dean of the UB School of Health Related Professions, professor emeritus of social and preventive medicine, and director of the mini-medical school is grateful for the donation: "The Davises are wonderful people whose ethical precepts and integrity led to their business success and now lead to this gift for community education."

Sultz added: "This gift will give us greater visibility in the community while ensuring that the mini-medical school remains a public service with no financial barriers for anyone wishing to attend."

While all faculty lecturers donate their services, there are general administrative costs for developing the materials, publicizing the programs and registering participants. Sultz said this gift, along with continued support from the university and a $25 tuition fee "will guarantee our long-term future."

This summer the mini-medical school offices are relocating to the front of the medical school to make for easier public access. Sultz is excited about the change and about upcoming programs, many created "in response to our audience, which drives us into new ventures and new places."

Prior gifts to UB from Esther and Don Davis also looked to the community's interests. In 1996, the Donald L. Davis Foundation created an endowment fund for WBFO 88.7 FM, the National Public Radio affiliate operated by the university. Income from that gift already has made a difference through upgraded broadcast and production equipment for improved sound quality, as well as providing support for locally-produced public affairs and arts programming.

In 1988, Davis established the Don Davis Auto World Endowment Lectureship Fund to sponsor UB's Distinguished Speaker Series, helping the university bring nationally prominent speakers to Buffalo in a public forum on topics of national importance. Over the years, this popular series has brought in a variety of well-known political figures, media celebrities, authors and newsmakers, including former presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and George Bush, astronomer Carl Sagan and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison.

Retired chairman of the board of Don Davis Auto World, Inc., Davis attended UB in the 1930s. The Davises live in Williamsville.

For information about how you can help support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving