Gift to UO will affect all our lives.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Paul Skillern For The Register-Guard

When San Francisco businessman and philanthropist Lorry Lokey recently pledged $10 million to the University of Oregon College of Education for its new building project, he did much more than showcase support for Oregon education.

Lokey says his Portland elementary teachers started him on the road to his success; it's why he is so committed to giving back to education. But I suspect there's more to the story than fond memories of the 1930s at Alameda Elementary in Portland, or even the worthy goal of creating nurturing schools for our children. I recognize an astute, transformative investment when I see one.

Lokey puts his money where it has far-reaching impact, leveraging the value of his investment. Lokey's gift will certainly have a dramatic and direct impact on the preparation of teachers, administrators and clinical professionals: I've toured the college and have seen firsthand the fragmented organization that conducts teaching, research and outreach services in 21 locations on campus and in Eugene.

Operating in so many dilapidated locations results in increased overhead, higher maintenance costs and, most importantly, reduced productivity.

Lokey's gift is also a visionary endorsement of social enterprise that only begins in the classroom. It's not only practical, it's bold investment strategy: Lokey's gift will eventually touch every business in Lane County.

Access to family wage employment, an educational system that produces literate, productive citizens, and an efficient social services system that supports the stability of our community's schools and public health - our economy is extremely sensitive to the status of each of these interlocking systems.

So I am very pleased that Lokey supports the work of College of Education faculty for this reason: Every dollar that supports faculty salaries returns more than $17 to the state in federal funding and direct support for local programs. As a research faculty, the College of Education has consistently attracted more than $20 million a year in grants and contracts. Last year they brought in more than $30.2 million in external funding - 36 percent of all grant and contract funds awarded to the whole university.

These dollars scaffold the work of anti-violence programs in public schools nationally, federal literacy and large-scale school achievement assessment systems, juvenile corrections educational programs, transition services such as school-to-work experience for youth with disabilities, early intervention in the detection of learning or physical disabilities in toddlers and newborns, and the continuing professional development of teachers and administrators.

Fortunately for many communities, the dollars the college's faculty attracts go to work to directly help children and families. Unfortunately for the college, none of it may be used to improve the facilities.

But Lokey is not yet finished with inspiring transformation in community. This time, he's put forth a challenge: If the college can raise $2.5 million from other donors by June 30, 2007, Lokey will match it, bringing the full amount of his gift to $12.5 million. With this challenge grant, Lane County has an unprecedented opportunity to complement one man's vision and stake our own confident pledge in our state and local economy.

In a time when, as a community, we are often at great variance over how developers or business interests best serve our collective well-being, it's refreshing to see the elegance of one very powerful influence and the potential it sets in motion. This man's timely gift - with Lane County's help - will mean that all children may have the timeless gift of knowing their teachers and schools as the special places that nurture their spirits and love of life.

An elegantly simple strategy, and simply powerful.

Paul Skillern, a Eugene businessman, is a member of the Dean's Advancement Council for the University of Oregon College of Education.