Pierre Lassonde » After a career that included environmental and stockholder controversies, the Canadian gold guru is expanding entrepreneurship efforts at the U.
At his inauguration last month, new University of Utah president David Pershing highlighted gifts from the Huntsman and Noorda families, who have long-standing ties to the state. Other donor names familiar to Utahns — Eccles, Marriott, Sorenson, Skaggs and others — are emblazoned on buildings and programs throughout campus.
But it’s Canadian mining-magnate-turned-philanthropist Pierre Lassonde, far less known and with a more distant connection to Utah, who is now emerging as one of the U.’s most generous donors.
Pershing devoted the most literal “face time” to images of Lassonde during his inaugural address, hailing his “unbelievable commitment” to turning students into entrepreneurs. His latest gift will fund the proposed Lassonde Institute, which would provide housing for up to 400 students interested in adding entrepreneurship to their majors, whether or not they are focused on business.
After earning a master’s in business administration at the U. 30 years ago, Lassonde became an astute gold analyst and investor.
