Businessman to Donate $20 Million to Smithsonian
WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian Institution will receive a $20-million donation from a California businessman to update its Museum of Natural History with state-of-the-art equipment and to make it more visitor-friendly.
The donation is the single largest gift in the Smithsonian’s 151-year history, said spokesman David Umansky.
The donor, Kenneth Behring, a real estate developer and former owner of the Seattle Seahawks, will formally present his gift today at a news conference.
The gift is a product of Behring’s longtime friendship with Smithsonian Secretary I. Michael Heyman, a former chancellor at UC Berkeley.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
