Columbia Business School has received a $2 million gift for scholarships. This gift was given to the school by Lord Irvine Laidlaw, in honor of his 50th reunion and Columbia’s upcoming centennial. The gift from Lord Laidlaw will supplement need-based scholarships and increase opportunities for Columbia Business students to study abroad.
Half of Lord Laidlaw’s donation will be used to establish the Laidlaw Centennial Scholarship Challenge Fund. This fund will match up to ten $100,000 current-use scholarships. Another $850,000 of the donation will go towards establishing the Laidlaw Scholarship Fund at Columbia Business School, which will provide current-use scholarships for a number of students over four years.
The remaining amount of the donation will be used to launch the Laidlaw Fund for International Study Tours and Global Immersion Programs at the Jerome A. Chazen Institute of International Business. The funding for the Chazen programs will provide critical opportunities for the next global business leaders to learn about different cultures and how business is conducted around the world.
Lord Laidlaw said that his gift is intended to inspire others affiliated with the School to give back as well and that he hopes that the match will be an accelerator, motivating more people to step up and do the same.
Lord Laidlaw, Scottish baron and former member of the House of Lords, is the owner of Laidlaw Capital Management and Laidlaw Estates. He also founded the Institute for International Research, a global conference provider, in the late 1970s and served as its chairman for 30 years.