Alumna bequeaths $31 million to Chatham Hall

The largest single gift to any girls' independent school -- $31 million -- has been bequeathed to Chatham Hall by alumna Elizabeth Beckwith Nilsen.

"To the best of my knowledge, that is the largest single donation to an independent girls' school in the country," said Susanne Beck, executive director of the National Coalition of Girls' Schools. "And keep them coming." The Council for Advancement and Support of Education confirmed the distinction.

"This gift transforms the institution for the next 50 to 100 years," said Gary Fountain, rector of the elite girls' boarding school in Pittsylvania County. "What remarkable generosity, and what a powerful statement about women supporting girls' education."

Nilsen, whose father had invested profitably in the company that became Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, was 92 when she died in 2006. Her husband, Robert A. Nilsen, died at age 97 seven months ago, at which time his wife's trust passed to the school.

Early in their retirement, the couple had lived in Virginia while raising horses for three years. They had been in Florida for more than 20 years.

Nilsen directed that her gift be placed into an unrestricted endowment fund, which will increase the school's general endowment to $51 million.

Chatham Hall is near the end of a capital campaign that had already surpassed a goal of $25 million, with pledges and contributions of $26.3 million from other alumnae. The Nilsen gift increases the campaign total to more than $57 million.

Born in Ohio, Elizabeth Beckwith graduated from Chatham Hall in 1931 after spending only a year and a half there.

"She came here in the middle of her junior year, and that experience transformed her," Fountain said. "It built her friendships. It gave her a sense of integrity and who she was that lasted for her lifetime. She said it transformed her at an important time in her life, and she was eternally grateful."

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The Richmond SPCA's annual Fur Ball on Oct. 2 raised more than $416,000 for the group's Cinderella Fund for the treatment and rehabilitation of sick, injured and underage animals at the shelter.

Calling it the most successful Fur Ball in the event's 11-year-history, CEO Robin Robertson Starr said contributions exceeded the goal of $400,000.

The sold-out event at The Jefferson Hotel attracted 438 human guests and 39 canine companions. Robert S. Ukrop took the spotlight twice, once in the Parade of Pets down the Grand Staircase and again when Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. was honored with the Ellen Glasgow Award for Human Service.

In the parade, he and his wife, Jayne, escorted Fern, a 3-year-old miniature poodle who was rescued from a puppy mill and received extensive medical care through the Cinderella Fund.

Ukrop's Super Markets received the Glasgow award for the Partnership for Healthy Pets, which has provided pet food, cat litter and pet treats to the Robins-Starr Humane Center for seven years.

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Virginia students collected more than $72,875 in spare change to support Olive Garden's 15th annual Pasta for Pennies program benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

During a three-week period, more than 52,060 students from 80 schools in Virginia collected pocket change to fill jars in their classrooms. The class collecting the most money at each school received a pasta party delivered to their classroom by their local Olive Garden restaurant.

Pocahontas Middle School in Powhatan County raised $4,853, making it one of the top fundraising schools in the state.

More than $5.3 million was donated by students throughout the nation this year, bringing the total to $47 million since the fundraising program's inception in 1994.

Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or . Send notices for Notable Gifts to .