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Elizabeth James

New Gift From Estate of Elizabeth James ’77

OThe University of Portland has received an additional $293,477 from the estate of Elizabeth James, which brings the total gift from her estate to $1.64 million.

A portion of the gift, more than $1 million, was dedicated to the renovated Clark Library, where a state-of-the-art conference room was named in her honor. In addition, the Elizabeth A. James Endowed Scholarship Fund was established and has received the remaining portion of the estate’s gift. The scholarship fund goes to help students enrolled in the Pamplin School of Business.

James was director of finance for Providence Health Systems in Portland when she passed away in 2012 at the age of 57. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 and an M.B.A. in 1986, both from UP. She worked as an auditor for Blue Cross, Blue Shield. In 1983, she joined Providence, where she worked for most of her career.

She volunteered extensively for numerous organizations and causes she supported. For more than 20 years she served as the assistant treasurer for Glenwood Community Church. For 12 years she handled the books for Heart of Hope Ministries International.

For more information contact the development office at 7395 or hanna@up.edu.

$1.35M RISE Gift From Elizabeth James ’77, ’86

JamesOver the past year, the University of Portland has been the beneficiary of a $1.35 million gift from the estate of alumna Elizabeth James, ’77, ’86 (pictured, from the 1977 Log). A portion of the gift, more than $1 million, was dedicated to the renovated Clark Library, where a state-of-the-art conference room was named in James’ honor. In addition, the Elizabeth A. James Endowed Scholarship Fund was established with $350,000 of the estate’s gift. The scholarship fund goes to help students enrolled in the Pamplin School of Business.

James was director of finance for Providence Health Systems in Portland when she passed away in 2012 at the age of 57. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977 and an MBA in 1986, both from University of Portland. After passing her Certified Public Accountant exam, she worked as an auditor for Blue Cross, Blue Shield. In 1983, she joined Providence, where she worked for most of her career. James volunteered extensively for numerous organizations and causes she supported.

Her gift is part of the University’s RISE Campaign, which was announced in December 2010 and seeks to raise $175 million by 2014. The campaign has raised more than $172 million to date and is one of the largest development campaigns ever for a Pacific Northwest private college or university.

For more information contact development at 7395 or hanna@up.edu.