Local philanthropist Paul Engler presented a $1 million gift to the West Texas A&M University Foundation this week as part of his total $80 million gift to the school.

According to WTAMU, the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation has agreed to donate $1 million a year for at least 80 years to both WTAMU’s Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences and the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. The school says the annual gift is used to “attract additional donors to support faculty, students and creative research initiatives.”

“Mr. Engler’s gift has not only supported important strategic initiatives in both Colleges, but has elevated WT to a whole new level of philanthropic support,” Dr. Todd Rasberry, vice president for philanthropy and external relations, said in a statement. “Others see the impact and momentum that the Engler Foundation legacy gift has generated for the University, and people want to invest in something that is making a difference across the whole Panhandle region.”

For more information, visit wtamu.edu.