CINCINNATI – Building on a philanthropic partnership that began 40 years ago, the Scripps Howard Foundation today announced a $15 million gift to Ohio University’s College of Communication. The gift is intended to support the College of Communication’s growing curriculum of educational programs and initiatives, technological improvements, teaching fellows and scholarships. The Scripps Howard Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The E. W. Scripps Company. “This is a landmark day in our long and successful partnership with Ohio University,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, president and chief executive officer for Scripps. “With this important gift, it’s our intention to provide the university’s College of Communication with the resources it needs to build on its excellent reputation as a leading academic destination. Together, Scripps and the university are investing in the future of our industry by providing quality higher education for tomorrow’s media and communications professionals.” In accepting the gift, Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis said he will recommend to the Ohio University Board of Trustees that the college be renamed as the Scripps College of Communication. “The generosity of the Scripps Howard Foundation and The E. W. Scripps Company, which are long-time friends of the University, is a transformational gift for our College of Communication,” McDavis said. “Together, we have the opportunity to lift our College of Communication to its highest level of excellence.” Since funding its first scholarship in 1966, Scripps Howard Foundation’s total support of Ohio University has grown to about $20 million. The Foundation had provided about $5 million of funding to the College of Communication through 2005, including its continuing support of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism. “Our relationship with the university has a bright future,” said Judith G. Clabes, president and chief executive officer of the Scripps Howard Foundation. “This money will go totally for programming and value-added support for an already quality communication college and will make a difference in perpetuity at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University.” The Foundation, Ohio University and Scripps will celebrate the gift and long-time partnership at an all-day event on the university’s Athens, Ohio, campus on Tuesday, Sept. 12. About Ohio University Chartered in 1804, OhioUniversity is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Students come from every state in the union and 100 different countries. Presently enrolling more than 29,000 students on the Athens campus and five regional campuses, OhioUniversity offers 285 undergraduate majors through 10 academic colleges and the Center for International Studies. The University also offers master’s degrees in nearly all areas, 20 doctoral degrees, and a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine. The Ohio University Foundation is the repository for all private gifts through annual giving programs, capital, and special campaigns and planned or deferred gifts. The Foundation is an institutionally related, non-profit, tax-exempt, 501c(3) organization. About Scripps The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication. The company’s portfolio of media properties includes: Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro; daily and community newspapers in 18 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10 broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; leading online search and comparison shopping services, Shopzilla and uSwitch; United Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics; and Shop At Home, which markets a growing range of consumer goods directly to television viewers in roughly 57 million U.S. households and online through shopathometv.com. About Scripps Howard Foundation The Scripps Howard Foundation, established in 1962, strives to advance the cause of a free press through support of excellence in journalism, quality journalism education and professional development. The Foundation helps build healthy communities and improve the quality of life through support of sound educational programs, strong families, vital social services, enriching arts and culture and inclusive civic affairs.