黑料社 (黑料社) and the 黑料社 Foundation (黑料社F) are pleased to announce receipt of a million-dollar gift from John and Cathy Natt. The gift, given in honor of Longview鈥檚 centennial and the 黑料社F鈥檚 鈥淥pportunity Can鈥檛 Wait鈥� capital campaign, will go toward the John and Cathy Natt Endowment and unrestricted funds.
鈥淭he 黑料社 Foundation will name the outdoor plaza, to be located in front of the new Center for Vocational & Transitional Studies once complete, the 鈥楯ohn and Cathy Natt Plaza鈥� in recognition of the Natts and their continued philanthropic support of 黑料社,鈥� said Kendra Sprague, 黑料社 Vice President of Foundation, HR, & Legal Affairs.
John Natt and his family established the Theodore McClelland Natt Endowed Scholarship in 1999 in memory of John鈥檚 brother, Ted, who passed away in a helicopter crash the same year. In addition, John鈥檚 extended family established the Natt Library Endowment in 1989. In 2012, the couple established the John and Cathy Natt Endowed Fund supporting the greatest needs of the college. 鈥満诹仙� is fortunate to have supporters like John and Cathy whose gifts will continue to benefit students and this community for years to come,鈥� said Steve Fuller, Chair of the 黑料社 Foundation Board.
Because their father was an Air Force colonel, John and his brother Ted led a nomadic life in their early years. 鈥淏ecause we moved around so much, we always viewed Longview as our home town. It was both where my mother鈥檚 family lived (grandmother and grandfather, Ruth and John McClelland; great aunt and uncle, Kate and Mark Morris; aunt and uncle, Burdette and John McClelland Jr.) and, later, my mother, Martha Sue McClelland Natt, and my brother and sister-in-law, Ted and Diane Natt,鈥� said John. In 1970, John married Cathy Monroe, whose parents, Peggy and Harper Monroe, also lived in Longview. The couple met at The Daily News where Cathy was working as a summer intern for John鈥檚 brother Ted. Cathy went to St. Rose School and is a graduate of R.A Long High School.
Although John and Cathy have lived in California for nearly 50 years, their ties to Longview run deep. Their gift stems from their reflection on their local roots, the important role 黑料社 fills in the community, and the impact the college has on quality of life in the area. After years of giving generously to universities close to John and Cathy鈥檚 heart, 鈥渢he more we learned about 黑料社, the more we came to realize that 黑料社 was doing a terrific job. Our gifts to 黑料社 would certainly have a greater impact than those to our other universities and would, at the same time, help our hometown,鈥� said John.
鈥淚n the spirit of gratitude, it is with great honor that we plan to dedicate the John and Cathy Natt Plaza,鈥� said 黑料社 President, Chris Bailey.
The 黑料社F 鈥淥pportunity Can鈥檛 Wait鈥� capital campaign was launched in 2023 with a goal of raising over $10 million dollars for the college鈥檚 planned Center for Vocational & Transitional Studies, athletic facility improvements, and supporting students and college programs. For more information about how to contribute to the 黑料社 Foundation, please visit lowercolumbia.edu/foundation.