Farooq Kathwari, CEO of Danbury-based Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., and his wife, Farida, have given $1 million to create an endowment that will support the honors program at Western Connecticut State University, which has two Danbury campuses.
The Connecticut State Colleges & Universities Board of Regents for Higher Education recently acknowledged the gift and approved renaming the program the Kathwari Honors Program.
“The Kathwari family and Western”™s honors program are a perfect match,” said WCSU President James W. Schmotter in a university-issued statement acknowledging the gift. “Both epitomize dedication to excellence, recognition of the value of hard work and commitment to making the world a better place. Farooq and Farida Kathwari”™s generous gift not only honors their son Irfan”™s memory; it also establishes a permanent foundation for educational experiences that will shape the lives of our honors students.”
Kathwari said he decided to support WCSU with this gift in part because Ethan Allen has been involved with the university ever since Nathan Ancell moved the company headquarters to Danbury in 1972. The Ancell School of Business is named for the former Ethan Allen CEO.
Kathwari, a member of the WCSU Foundation board of directors, praised the honors program, which serves more than 200 high-performing students with extra instruction and service opportunities. With the gift, the program is expected to grow to 500 students.
“The Honors Program is very important,” Kathwari said in the WCSU-issued statement. “They are students who perform well and perhaps can use the extra help to further their education and careers. I believe these students will make a difference.”
The building that will house the program, formerly Alumni Hall, will be named the Irfan Kathwari Honors House, in memory of the Kathwaris”™ son. Alumni functions along with development, communications and related departments will be relocated to another building on campus.
