UF alum gives $50M to College of Engineering

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – A University of Florida alumnus who invented the UV coating for sunglasses has given the school’s College of Engineering a $50 million cash donation.

UF President Kent Fuchs on said philanthropist Herbert Wertheim made the donation, and he and his family were recognized at Saturday’s football game against Tennessee.

The school is not yet releasing further details of how Wertheim’s donation will be used, but are expected to on Thursday.

The Gainesville Sun reports (http://bit.ly/1FxL58t ) that the donation will be used by the engineering college as seed money for a $300 million funding drive.

The college is looking to fund a $57 million building, and more for an expansion of classroom and lab space.