Statement from The Ohio State University
In light of recent news surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, Ohio State initiated a review of gifts and donations. Preliminary findings show that the university has received one gift from Epstein and one gift from an affiliated foundation.
In 1990, Epstein donated $1,000 to the Wexner Center for the Arts Membership Fund.
In partial fulfillment of a $5 million pledge made in 2005 to support the Woody Hayes Athletics Center, the COUQ Foundation, which is reported to be Epstein’s private foundation, anonymously donated $2.5 million to the university in May 2007. The Leslie H. Wexner Charitable Fund made an additional $2.5 million gift in 2007. Together, those gifts were applied to the naming of the Les Wexner Football Complex. (A copy of the gift agreement and associated records are available at this link.)
Epstein is a convicted sex offender whose crimes are reprehensible, and his association with these gifts to the university is concerning. Ohio State is conducting a complete review of the giving history to the university by Epstein and known associated entities and will take additional action as appropriate.
