Drake alumnus donates $1 million

A New York businessman and Drake University alumnus has donated $1 million to Drake to support leadership education and to renovate one of the most-used buildings on campus, the Bulldog Theater. Richard Sussman, past president of Mr. Steam, a Long Island-based manufacturer of garment steaming equipment, made the donation in honor of his late wife, Lila. Sussman’s donation has funded the creation of the Lila and Richard Sussman Endowment for Leadership, which will provide ongoing sponsorship of the fall and spring leadership conferences attended by students enrolled in the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute, as well as other students. “This is such a transformative gift; it allows us to do new things and to move leadership education at Drake to another level,” said Paul Secord, the university’s director of development. Sussman’s gift will also fund the first renovation in 30 years of the Bulldog Theater, which will be renamed The Richard and Lila Sussman Theater.

A New York businessman and Drake University alumnus has donated $1 million to Drake to support leadership education and to renovate one of the most-used buildings on campus, the Bulldog Theater. Richard Sussman, past president of Mr. Steam, a Long Island-based manufacturer of garment steaming equipment, made the donation in honor of his late wife, Lila. Sussman’s donation has funded the creation of the Lila and Richard Sussman Endowment for Leadership, which will provide ongoing sponsorship of the fall and spring leadership conferences attended by students enrolled in the Donald V. Adams Leadership Institute, as well as other students. “This is such a transformative gift; it allows us to do new things and to move leadership education at Drake to another level,” said Paul Secord, the university’s director of development. Sussman’s gift will also fund the first renovation in 30 years of the Bulldog Theater, which will be renamed The Richard and Lila Sussman Theater.