Key Takeaways
- Bill and Chloe Cornell gave $15 million to the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, announced October 13, 2026.
- The gift supports the Cornell Center, which will expand dental care for people with special healthcare needs.
- The university says the gift is the largest in the School of Dental Medicine's history.
- The gift equals 2.1% of the contributions Case Western Reserve reported for its fiscal year ending June 2025.
Case Western Reserve University announced on October 13, 2026, that R. William (Bill) Cornell Jr. and Chloe T. Cornell gave $15 million to its School of Dental Medicine to address gaps in dental care for people with special needs. The gift supports the Cornell Center, which the release calls a new model in dental care.
What the Cornell Center Will Do
Initial clinical access begins in early 2027 in a five-room operatory startup space inside the existing dental clinic. An operatory is a treatment room with a dental chair and its equipment. The space will be equipped with quiet electric handpieces, the handheld tools dentists use to drill and polish, along with digital scanners and CO₂ laser technology. Ideastream reported that the donation aims to improve oral healthcare for people of all ages with special needs.
Dale Baur, DDS (DEN '80), the school's interim dean, said: "This generous gift will make a real difference for patients and families in our community for decades to come." The first measure of the center's reach will be how many patients it serves after the early 2027 opening.
Why the Gift Targets Special Needs Dental Care
Bill Cornell, listed in the release as DDS (DEN '60), said: "We feel it's very important that children, young adults and older adults with special needs have a place to go." His wife, Chloe T. Cornell, described the problem families face: "Places for treatment are hard to find," she said. "The Cornell Center will be a place where parents can get help and reassurance and know that they are not just alone in the world."
The release also ties the center to training, saying it will prepare future oral health professionals to deliver that care.
How the Gift Compares With the University's Giving
The university's most recent federal filing is a Form 990, the annual return tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS, for the fiscal year ending June 2025. It reports $719,312,252 in contributions, meaning gifts and grants received during the year. The $15 million gift equals 2.1% of that figure. Contributions were $661,420,761 in fiscal 2023 and $699,452,878 in fiscal 2024, so contributions rose each year over that stretch. Filings lag the calendar, so the most recent figures cover a year that ended before this gift.
Revenue for fiscal 2025 was $1,735,353,050, which puts the gift at 0.9% of the university's total revenue. Net assets, meaning total assets minus debts, were $3,470,514,609 for the same year. The release calls the gift the largest in the dental school's history, a narrower claim than a university-wide record.
People Also Ask
How much did Bill and Chloe Cornell give to Case Western Reserve?
Bill and Chloe Cornell gave $15 million to the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. The gift is meant to address gaps in dental care for people with special needs. The release describes it as support for oral healthcare for people with special healthcare needs.
When does the Cornell Center begin clinical access?
The Cornell Center begins initial clinical access in early 2027. Access starts in a five-room operatory startup space inside the existing dental clinic at Case Western Reserve University. That space will be equipped with quiet electric handpieces, digital scanners and CO₂ laser technology.
Is the Cornell gift the largest in the dental school's history?
Case Western Reserve University says the $15 million gift is the largest in the School of Dental Medicine's history. The gift equals 2.1% of the university's contributions for the fiscal year ending June 2025. The claim covers the dental school, not the university as a whole.
Who are the donors behind the Cornell Center gift?
R. William (Bill) Cornell Jr., DDS (DEN '60), and his wife, Chloe T. Cornell, made the $15 million gift. The release lists the gift as support for oral healthcare for people with special healthcare needs.
Sources: Newswise, Ideastream Public Media.