Hi,
I have been curious for a while as to who the anonymous donor of the University of Chicago’s Odyssey Scholarship might be.
This person, an alumnus, gave a $100 million gift to the University in 2007 as well as a written statement (Alumnus’ $100 million gift launches new Odyssey scholarship program).
The University has taken to referring to this person as Homer, and launched the Odyssey Scholarship in their honor.
Is there any way we can find out more information about this person?
Well the reference to Hanna Gray speaking at graduation limits it to an alumnus currently between the ages of 46-61 (assuming 21 y.o. at graduation) and between 36-51 when the gift was made. The reference to falling off the vine of the academic life suggests a regrettable and guilty (to a UofCer) choice of going into money making. So start looking through bankers and hedge fund people and cross reference the age and education. I have a pretty good guess myself after 10 minutes of Googling.
The list has to be fairly short of alumns who are capable of making a gift that large.