Robert A. Wild, S.J., President of Marquette University today reached out to Marquette alums with the following e-mail, "Today I am extremely pleased to share with you the news that a very generous alumnus, Mr. Joseph Zilber, is making a gift of $30 million to the Law School. Mr. Zilber's gift is among the largest in Marquette's history. A 1941 Law School and 1939 College of Business Administration graduate, Joe made the announcement earlier today on Tory Hill, the future site of the Law School, as part of his newly announced $50 million commitment to Milwaukee organizations and institutions. We are most grateful to Joe for his ongoing dedication to Marquette and to the city of his birth. "

Zilber today announced that he was committing $50 million to charities, organizations and institutions in Milwaukee -- $30 million to Marquette. Milwaukee is at a critical juncture in its history, Zilber said in launching his "New Potential for Milwaukee" initiative.

Zilber didn't provide details on the initiative, but said this in a statement: "We are not the city we were. We need to concentrate our energy and resources on the city we can be. We need more and better jobs. We need more funding and a broader commitment to improving the quality of the education of our young men and women and to improve the commitment of government at all levels to efficiency and bipartisan public policy. The strength of our ethnic parts must come together for one purpose – to make life in Milwaukee better, richer, fuller for all its citizens."

Fr. Wild continued his praise with the following in his e-mail, "This gift, which includes $5 million toward construction of the new building and $25 million for Law School student scholarships, highlights the university's increased emphasis on strengthening our financial aid resources. As we continue to attract a significant percentage of highly qualified first generation college students, we must find ways for them and all qualified students to access a Marquette education.

Joe Zilber himself was a first generation college student. It is imperative to build our scholarship endowment for the entire university and this gift is a wonderful beginning for this academic year, following a record fundraising year of more than $101 million thanks to alumni and friends such as you. "

MU graduate or not, today is a good day for Marquette and Milwaukee.