Sobrato family gives $20 million for library
By Megan O'Connor
Santa Clara's pocketbook just got a little bigger -- $20 million bigger, in fact.
Last week, the Library and Learning Commons received one of the largest donations the school has ever been given from alumni and Silicon Valley developers John A. Sobrato and son John M. Sobrato.
While the name of the entire library has not been determined, the technology center within the new library will be named after the Sobrato family, according to John M. Sobrato.
"It is the most important capital project done at Santa Clara in the last 20 years, or even in the school's history," Sobrato said.
In all, there will be three names attached to the Library and Learning commons. The library portion will remain Orradre, and the technology portion will include the Sobrato name. But the name of the entire facility has yet to be determined. The decision rests with the university, the Orradre family, the Sobrato family and Lorry Lokey, who also donated $20 million, according to Jim Purcell, vice president of university relations.
The Sobratos' donation will contribute to the $95 million project. The new library is part of the Campaign for Santa Clara that began in 2002 in order to raise $350 million for scholarships, professorships, the new library and for a new business school building. This donation pushes the campaign to over $400 million.
John M. Sobrato said he and his father were drawn to donating to the new library primarily because of the Jesuit education mission.
"My father went there (Santa Clara), I went there, my wife went there, my son is there, and I have another son at Bellarmine, and it is likely he will end up there too," Sobrato said. "We certainly have strong ties to the university."
In total, the Sobrato family has donated $35 million to Santa Clara over the past ten years. They are the family that the Sobrato residence hall is named after. The family is also known for its donations to San Jose's Center for Employment Training and neighboring Morgan Hill's school district.
John A. Sobrato graduated from Santa Clara in 1960 along with University President Paul Locateli, S.J., and John M. Sobrato graduated in 1983. John A. Sobrato is a member of the university's Board of Trustees and John M. Sobrato was chair of the Santa Clara Board of Fellows from 2001 to 2002. Both father and son are of Sobrato Development Companies, the largest developer in the Silicon Valley, and The Sobrato Family Foundation.
The Board of Trustees and Locatelli have decided that if the fundraising goal is met, the university will break ground this spring on the new business school and have the building completed by fall of 2008, the same time the library will be finished.
Contact Megan O'Connor at (408) 554-4546 or moconnor@scu.edu.