Kansas City native donates $75 million to the University of Notre Dame

A Kansas City native has donated $75 million to the University of Notre Dame, the largest single gift in the school’s history.

The donation came from John W. “Jay” Jordan, a Chicago area businessman who is a co-founder of Jordan Co., a private investment firm.

The gift makes Jordan the school’s biggest benefactor, with a total of $150 million, the university said Friday.

The newest donation will create a science and technology research program to spur “innovative intellectual property that has important commercial potential,” the school said. The funds can be used to recruit faculty and students, provide laboratory equipment, support seed grants and build prototypes.

Jordan, a 1969 Notre Dame graduate, has served on the school’s board of trustees since 1993.

This story was originally published May 2, 2014 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Kansas City native donates $75 million to the University of Notre Dame."