With the recognition of his second $2.5 million gift, Jesuit High School announced that Richard “Steve” Jenkins, class of 1975, has surpassed $5 million in giving to the school.
Jenkins made his previous donation of $2.5 million in 2017. Before more than 850 Jesuit students, at Convocation, in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Richard C. Hermes, president of Jesuit, announced that Jenkins and his wife, Carole, have now made an additional
$2.5 million gift – elevating Jenkins’ lifetime generosity, to the school, above $5.3 million.
Jenkins is the former chief executive officer and current executive chairman of Beach Pharmaceuticals, in Tampa. He is just the second benefactor to achieve $5 million in giving to the school. In 2023, Lauren and Chris Schellman made a $5 million gift, the largest single donation in school history.
“We are honored today to continue our commitment to Jesuit’s vision of service to our community,” said Jenkins, who lives in Tampa. “Jesuit was a transformational experience for me, and we feel it is so important to support the school, not only in its focus on academic excellence but also the core values that are so important to Jesuit and will guide these young men throughout their lives.”
Jenkins’ gift will be used to help advance the next phases of Jesuit’s campus master plan including the Jenkins Science Center, to be named in his honor, as well as a new student activities center, dining hall and press box.