Lewis and Faye Manderson Donate More Than $12 Million to UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Lewis M. and Faye Manderson have made gifts in excess of $12 million to The University of Alabama’s “Our Students. Our Future.” capital campaign.

The gifts will support the University’s Manderson Graduate School of Business, which is named in honor of Lewis M. Manderson Jr. The gifts are the third largest in the University’s history.  

“Lewis and Faye Manderson are making an extraordinary investment in the lives of our students and the future of our University,” said UA President Robert E. Witt. “The Mandersons’ generosity will leave a lasting legacy for which The University of Alabama will be eternally grateful.”

Choosing to support UA during and after their lifetimes, the Mandersons have donated more than $12 million to the University through outright and estate gifts. The majority of their gifts support the operation of the Manderson Graduate School of Business, including scholarships, student recruitment efforts, career services and alumni relations.

“Faye and I are pleased to partner with the University in educating and supporting the brightest business leaders of today and tomorrow,” said Lewis Manderson. “We want our gift to support many generations of The University of Alabama family and continue a tradition of academic excellence at the Capstone.”

The park and the opening to the north side of campus will become The Park at Manderson Landing in recognition of the many doors that Manderson, 83, and his wife have opened to UA graduate students and the many civic contributions they have made to the community.

Lewis Manderson is the founder of Creative Displays Inc., one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the United States. In 1983, Manderson sold Creative Displays, and went on to serve as president of Manderson and Associates Inc., a private investment company in Atlanta, and founded Cordova Capital Inc., a venture capital fund, and various other businesses.

Manderson’s professional affiliations included serving as chair of two national organizations, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and the Institute of Outdoor Advertising.  He also served as chair of the Alabama Outdoor Advertising Association.

During the 37 years Manderson called Tuscaloosa home, he was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, chair of the local United Way campaign, and chair of the Tuscaloosa’s YMCA Enrollment campaign. His UA affiliations include membership in the President’s Cabinet, the Board of Visitors of the College of Commerce and Business Administration and Commerce Executive Society.

Manderson received an honorary doctorate from UA in 1984 and was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame in 1994.  A native of Cordova, he and Faye Manderson now reside in Atlanta.

The Manderson Graduate School of Business offers 21 graduate degree programs.  The Master’s of Business Administration is the largest program within the graduate school. In the 2008 Princeton Review rankings, the MBA Program was ranked fourth for best facilities; eighth for best administration; and ninth for best classroom experience.  In fall of 2008, the program admitted 78 students, the largest class in the program’s history.  The class had an average GMAT score of 630 and an overall 3.4 grade point average. 

The “Our Students. Our Future.” campaign has surpassed its $500 million goal which includes $250 million for student scholarships. The remaining funds are allocated to faculty support, facilities and priority needs. The campaign, which concludes June 30, has raised more than $595 million since 2002.