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For more information, please contact: Gwen Osborne, director of public affairs, (312) 906-5251

Roy and Susan Palmer pledge $1 million to Chicago-Kent

Largest gift by living alumnus will support expansion of law school’s downtown campus

  Barry Maram '71 Roy and Susan Palmer. Mr. Palmer graduated from Chicago-Kent with honors in 1962.
CHICAGO–January 23 , 2006 –- Attorney Roy C. Palmer and his wife, Susan M. Palmer, have pledged a $1 million gift to Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

A Chicago-Kent alumnus and a member of its board of overseers, Mr. Palmer and his wife have earmarked their gift to support the expansion of the law school’s campus, located in a rapidly developing area of downtown Chicago.

“Roy and Susan Palmer have pledged to make the largest gift by a living alum in Chicago-Kent’s history,” said Harold J. Krent, dean of the law school. “Their vision and support are absolutely pivotal in making the dream of an IIT downtown campus a reality.”

Mr. Palmer, who graduated from Chicago-Kent with honors in 1962, has headed a variety of real estate development ventures since retiring in 1990 from his law practice of 25 years. Active in numerous civic, social and philanthropic organizations, the Palmers are the recipients of the 1997 Outstanding Individual Philanthropist Award of the National Society of Fundraising Executives. Mr. Palmer’s daughter, Allyson Palmer, graduated from Chicago-Kent in 1992.

The Palmers reside in Sarasota, Fla., where they recently endowed the construction of the Roy and Susan Palmer Quadrangle for student housing at the Ringling School of Art and Design as well as the Helen R. Payne Day Nursery, Mote Marine Laboratory’s permanent sea turtle exhibit, and the restoration of the ballroom at Cà d’Zan Mansion on the grounds of Sarasota’s Ringling Estate, now part of Florida State University.

In addition to serving on Chicago-Kent’s board of overseers, Mr. Palmer sits on the board of directors of Harris Bank/Bank of Montreal in Sarasota. He is the past board president of the Asolo Theatre of Florida State University and a past board member of the Sarasota Ballet, Goodwill Industries in Sarasota, and the Mote Marine Biological Laboratory. He is the recipient of the Arts Leadership Award of the Sarasota County Arts Council and the Eagle Feather of the St. Croix Band of Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin.

Before moving to Florida, Susan Palmer owned and operated a commercial construction cleaning business in Palatine, Ill., and she has been actively involved in the design and construction of her husband’s commercial property developments. She is a board member of the Ringling School of Art and Design, United Cerebral Palsy, and the Animal Rescue Coalition and a past board member of the Sarasota Ballet, Florida Winefest, and Wall Street Live. In recent years, Mrs. Palmer has actively chaired major fundraising events for Goodwill Industries, the Sarasota Ballet, Mote Marine Laboratory, Ringling Museum, Helen R. Payne Day Nursery, and Florida State University’s Asolo Theatre.

 

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