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Michigan State University has received a historic $401 million commitment , largely for athletics, from local philanthropists Greg and Dawn Williams.

The bulk of the donation—$290 million—supports Spartan athletics by seeding a newly launched campaign called FOR SPARTA: The Capital Initiative for MSU Athletics. It aims to raise $1 billion from donors “to elevate facilities, enhance the student-athlete experience and secure the department’s position as the leader in college athletics,” according to the university’s announcement.

Another $100 million will establish an affiliated organization called Spartan Ventures, designed to become “the revenue, innovation and development arm” of MSU Athletics, charged with devising new revenue streams and strategic partn

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