Posted on August 30, 2012

Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership Receives $3 Million

Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government has announced a $3 million gift to its Center for Public Leadership from founding and sustaining donors Leslie and Abigail Wexner.

The latest gift brings the Wexners' total commitment to the center and the Kennedy School to more than $42 million since 1989. CPL was launched in 2000 with funding from Leslie Wexner, who founded Limited Brands, and his wife, an attorney.

"The Wexners are the finest partners imaginable," said David Gergen, professor of public service and director of the center. "They recognized long ago that business schools invest enormous efforts in preparing men and women to become leaders in the corporate world but no comparable effort is made to prepare leaders for the public arena — people who advance the common good through political life, nonprofits, or indeed in business."

"As Les and I have thought about where we want to concentrate our time and resources, we are increasingly focusing on four main areas: our community in central Ohio, our Jewish faith, higher education, and the need for better leaders," said Abigail Wexner. "The Center for Public Leadership and Harvard Kennedy School represent, we believe, critical institutions for advancing the quality of leadership both at home and overseas."