The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-25
R0CKEFELLER'S
HOLIDAY GIFT IS
S63,763,357.97
Thanksgiving Benefaction
Bestowed in Honor of His
Dead Wife.
FUND TWO YEARS OLD
Donation Provides for Ben
efits to Women and
Children.
WORK TO BE EXTENDED
Fund Brings Total Philan-
thropies of Capitalist to
Half a Billion.
WORK TO BE EXTENDED

Hall Il DllllOn.
The gift of S63,763.35 by John
D. Rockefeller to the Laura Spelman
Rockefeller Memorial, to be used for
charitable purposes. and especially for
improving the condition of women and
children, was announced yesterday by
his son. This is a Thanksgiving pres
ent to humanity from the man who
long ago surpassed all records for
philanthropy and is the worlds great
est bestower Of pecuniary benefactions.
Mr.. Rockefeller established the me-
mortal two years ago as an endow-
ment to carry on the charitable ac-
tivities of his wife. who died in 1915.
He intended to transfer to it from
time to time. as it's plan and work de-
veloped. such securities as 1t might
need. This he has done, without any
public word, until the sum he has
given amounts to more than s63.000,-
900. as reported yesterday by John D.
Rockefeller, Jr.
Establishment of the Laura Spelman
Rockefeller Memorial makes the fourth
great endowment bearing the Rookie
feller name. 1t is separate and distinct
from the three others, as they are
from one another. The Rockefeller
Foundation devotes itself chiefly to pro-
motion of the public health. The Cen
eral Education Board Is of assistance
to colleges. and within the last year
has received from the founder $4,000
900 for the increasing OF professors SAL
aries. The Rockefeller Institute gives
itself to medical research.
Distribution Not Revealed.
Just how the money to the Laura
spelman Rockefeller Memorial will be
applied is not yet known. 1t was ex-
plained that the manner Of distribution
would be determined as the organization
developed. An idea OF the needs that
are to be met can be obtained how
ever. from the younger Mr.. Rocke-
feller's statement OF the disposition of
sS.000.000 already appropriated by the
Memorial This includes gifts 70 social
settlements and charitable institutions
In New York and Cleveland. to the
Baptist Home for the Aged. the Boy
Scouts, the Palisades Interstate Park
the United Hospitals Fund the two
Christian Associations. the Salvatit '
Army and several lines OF Baptist en-
deavor. including s4,000,000, the Me-
morials largest appropriation thus far.
for the Board OF Promotion of the
Northern Baptist Convention a part OF
the Interchurch World Movement.
Mr.. Rockefeller's benefactions are
nearing the half billion mark and possi-
bly, have attained II. The reason for un-
certainty is that so far as known no
accurate record has been kept OF his
private distribution as distinguished
from the large sums he has bestowed
upon the various formal foundations.
The total gifts on record or recalled by
John d. Rockefeller. Jr.. In testimony
before the industrial relations inquiry
five years ago and brought up to date
by the inclusion Of all the items since
then is s475.000, 900.
II Is believed that Mr. Rockefeller has
given away at least $4,000. 900 in ad-
dition to this in many scattered dona-
tions, and the figure may be larger. His
fortune in the last decade has been com
monty estimated at upward of 81 ,000,-
600, 900. The only man who approached
him in the matter Of public giving was
Andrew Carnegie. Mr. Carnegie got
rid Of $3.50, 900. 900 in his lifetime. and
beaueathed about s25. 200. .oOo--almost all
he had ieft--for philanthropic purposes
when he died.
Mr.. Rockefeller's big gift of last year
was announced on Christmas eve. It
was 500. .ooo. 900. of which half went to
the General Education Board and half to
the Rockefeller Foundation.
Text of Statement.
The statement made yesterday by John
d. Rockefeller. Jr.. follows:
For years prior to her death g. 1915
my mother was interested IN the sup
port of many religious and charitable
enterprises. Since her death Il has been
the desire OF my father that in so far
as might seem wise those and kindred
objects in which my mother had mani
tested an intimate interest should con-
tinue to receive support. To make this
possible my father in loving memory
Of my mother established a charitable
corporation known as the Laura Spell
man Rockefeller Memorial
"The original and present directors
OF tho memorial are Mcssrs. John ID.
Rockefeller. Jr.; Charles II. Hughes.
George Wildwood Murray. Starr j.
Murray and Willard s. Richardson.
"As stated In the certificate of incor-
poration, the particular objects for
which the corporation is formed are
the application TO charitable purposes
of the income. and. II the corporation
80 decides. OF the principal OF such
property az the corporation may from
time TO time possess'
1T Is also stipulated In the articles
OF incorporation that no officer, mem
ber or employee OF this corporation shall
receive or be lawfully entitled 20 re-
ceive any pecuniary profit from the OPP
GRAFTON thereof. except reasonable COM
Continued on Tenth Page