Lincoln (Neb.) - Nov. 22, 1999 - The University of Nebraska- Lincoln department of English is in search of an outstanding new faculty member thanks to a generous gift from Cliff Hillegass, founder and former president of Cliffs Notes, a company that manufactures study guides.
Hillegass recently announced the final distributions from the Cliffs Charitable Foundation. A $250,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation from the Cliffs Charitable Foundation established the Cliff Hillegass Chair in English. The chair provides funding for a professorship in the English department in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln by offering a selected professor an annual salary stipend as well as research and program support.
The Cliffs Charitable Foundation's gift was supplemented by a match from the Donald and Mildred Othmer estate, making the total endowment for the chair $500,000. In addition, a second gift of $250,000 was made to the Cliff and Mary Hillegass Excellence Fund and creates an endowment at the NU Foundation to offer assistance to the Literary Research Program and Nebraska Writing Project at UNL.
"When we sold Cliffs Notes, the Cliffs Charitable Foundation dissolved," said Mary Hillegass, who graduated from the university in 1960. "During the lifetime of the foundation, we felt that it was important to support education, art and health care. The university was extremely important to us and it seemed fitting to make this final gift to UNL."
Linda Pratt, chair of the English department, said that the national search for a new appointment in 19th century American literature to fill the Hillegass Chair is already under way.
"Cliff Hillegass' generosity to the department is an enormous boost to our faculty strength," Pratt said. "Cliff has been a friend to our department, and we are deeply honored by this gesture of support for our work in literary studies. This named chair opens up some wonderful possibilities for both our undergraduate and graduate students." Pratt said that the department hopes to have the new Cliff Hillegass Chair appointment in place for next fall.
In 1958, Cliff Hillegass founded Cliffs Notes with a $4,000 loan and a unique idea. He began creating study guides in the basement of his Lincoln home. Almost immediately the guides became a hit and the company grew. His success has continued during the past 40 years.
"Cliffs Notes was a successful company because we were able to find a need that we could fill," said Cliff Hillegass. "When the company began seeing a large increase in revenue, we felt that it was time to give back to the community and especially the university we both attended."
In 1992, the NU Foundation received the first gift from the Cliffs Charitable Foundation. This contribution of $52,000 funded many projects at UNL, ranging from a writing project in the department of English to a scholarship for gymnastics students. Although the Hillegasses gave more than $250,000 to the NU Foundation before the establishment of the Cliffs Charitable Foundation, this gift further symbolized their commitment to education and the University, a commitment that still stands as they serve as NU Foundation trustees.
"The Hillegasses have displayed their generosity through time and skill as well as through their monetary gifts to the University of Nebraska," said Terry L. Fairfield, NU Foundation president and CEO. "This generosity has had a very positive impact on the NU Foundation, but more importantly, the university. We greatly appreciate their dedication and support."
The University of Nebraska Foundation is a non-profit
corporation supplementing support for students, faculty,
facilities and programs at the University of Nebraska's four
campuses through gifts from alumni, friends, corporations and
other foundations.
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