The gift of a lifetime

Mary Perper once said, "It's like a family at Lynn. I just love everything about it."

That love for Lynn University is reflected all around campus. The late Mary and late Harold Perper already have left an indelible impression on the Lynn community and helped make Lynn a home-away-from-home for students for nearly 30 years, and yet, their generosity lives on.

A planned gift worth over $10 million from the Perper estate ensures their legacy will inspire generations to come. As the second-largest gift in the university's history, it represents the Perpers' commitment to positively impacting the Lynn community in actionable ways—something they demonstrated time and time again. From supporting strategic initiatives to addressing specific needs on campus, the Perpers' passion for making a difference in students' lives is evident in the various buildings and facilities that bear their namesake across campus.

"Difference-making starts with the heart. We are forever grateful to Harold and Mary for their generous contributions over the years," said President Kevin M. Ross. "We are deeply appreciative of the meaningful advancements they've supported across campus. They were exceptional visionaries who loved Lynn, and we are forever grateful."

The new gift will support scholarships, capital projects like the Perper Residence Hall, and immediate needs for generations to come.

Mary and Harold Perper were trailblazing executives. They married in 1959 and became hotel franchisers from the 1960s through the 1990s. In retirement, their hospitality continued as they turned their focus from creating a positive customer experience to ensuring a positive student experience on Lynn’s campus.

“They loved to provide support that improved our students' experiences,” said Gregory J. Malfitano ’73, ’75, senior vice president of development. “They didn’t help us build just any residence halls, they helped us build suites. They didn’t only make intramural athletics possible, they made them possible for every student, and even during the nighttime.”

Their planned gift is unrestricted—allowing the university’s administration to determine how to use the funds for the future.

“In the same way that no one told them how to run their business, they believed that we know what’s best for our students,” said Malfitano. “They believed in our mission and supported it. With their unrestricted gift, we can ensure that their legacy will continue to do so for the future.”

The unrestricted funds provide great flexibility. Traditionally such resources help cover expenses related to student services and program development, fund grants for scholarships and professorships, and provide other immediate needs. Yet undesignated, Malfitano expects that the Perpers’ gift will support scholarships, capital projects like the Perper Residence Hall, and immediate needs for generations to come.

“The Perpers believed in us so wholeheartedly,” said Malfitano. “They worked hard, and every project they contributed to was state of the art. Having funding dedicated to future years allows us to plan with more foresight. We miss seeing them on campus, and we're grateful to know that their legacy will continue through this gift. However we use it, I know we will make them proud."