A generous Kiwi

The Herald reports:

New Zealander Peter Cooper has donated $74 million to a top American university in what’s been called an “unprecedented” act of philanthropy.

The Kaitaia-raised son of a truck driver, Mr Cooper made a fortune in real estate and private equity and developed projects including the billion-dollar, 6.5ha Britomart site in downtown Auckland.

This month, he donated US$50 million to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. for the creation of a leadership program for the university’s student-athletes, and to fund a sports field.

Georgetown is an amazing university and I love walking around the area it is in, when I am in DC.

Many people think it is named after George Washington but it predates him. It seems it was probably named after King George II.

Mr Cooper, of Ngati Kahu, Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri, spent his time between New Zealand and California’s Newport Beach.

A real Kaitaia boy.

Mr Cooper practiced law for 11 years. He also established the Britomart Arts Foundation, setting it up with an initial $1 million donation, and developed rural property in Northland.

In 2007, the Environmental Defence Society praised his development at Kerikeri’s Te Puna Inlet for its commitment to ecological restoration and protection of heritage sites.

Nice.