Congressman and wife donate $10M to Furman.

• Position: David Trone, June Trone, Furman University

U.S. Rep. David Trone, a Democrat from Maryland, and his wife have given $10 million to Furman University, with $8.5 million dedicated to student mental health services and $1.5 million to support Furman's Hillel, the Jewish Student Association. The gift makes the congressman, a 1977 Furman graduate and a member of the Furman University Board of Trustees, one of the university's largest living donors, according to a news release.

"As a proud alumnus of Furman University, I am honored by the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way on an issue of great personal importance," Trone, who also is founder and co-owner of the retail chain Total Wine and More.

The $8.5 million for mental health is intended to transform services, enabling the university to reach more students in need of care earlier, and with new approaches, making Furman a model for mental and emotional health care what Trone calls "mental health fitness" in higher education, the news release said.

Trone has championed many mental health and addiction initiatives in Congress, the release said. He co-led the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, is founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, and has spoken publicly about his nephew Ian Trone's death from a fentanyl overdose.

"In this day and age, it is vital that we work together to break the stigma surrounding mental health, ensure tolerance in our diverse communities, and equip our students with the tools and resources to succeed," Trone, who gave $3.5 million to Furman in 2013 to renovate and name the Trone Student Center, said in the release. "With this gift through the David and June Trone Family Foundation, I trust that Furman University will continue to positively impact and shape our nation's future leaders."

The gift gets to the heart of The Furman Advantage and its emphasis on helping students create lives of purpose and impact, said Furman University President Elizabeth Davis.

"The Furman Advantage helps students become resilient and adaptable to change in the face of adversity," she said in the release. "Mental fitness is vital to developing these skills, ensuring our students are able to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. David and June's generous donation clearly will make a significant difference in our students' lives and in our campus community, now and for generations to come."

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