URI to receive $7 million estate gift toward sciences

KINGSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The University of Rhode Island announced that it has received a $7 million pledge from Cherubina “Ruby” DeChristofaro to advance research at the university.

The donation will come from DeChristofaro and her late husband’s estate, and in recognition, URI will name its life sciences building the Joseph ’56 and Ruby DeChristofaro Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences.

In addition, there will be an Award for Scholarly Excellence and Distinguished Endowed Faculty Fund in Molecular Life and Neurosciences named after the DeChristofaros.

The former will benefit two third-year students in the Neuroscience Program, while the latter will support faculty in molecular life and neuroscience research.

“This is a remarkable gift, for both its vision and its generosity, and we are deeply grateful,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “This will help students and faculty pursue discoveries that will make a difference in people’s lives and build on one of the University’s distinctive strengths.”

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