Helen Zell, Billionaire's Wife, Donates $50 Million to U-M Writing Program

Helen Zell

Helen Zell, the wife of billionaire real estate and media mogul Sam Zell,  is donating $50 million to support the University of Michigan's acclaimed graduate writing program, WDIV reports.

Big gifts to universities usually go to the sciences and not the humanities, the station notes. Helen Zell of Chicago earned her English degree at Michigan in 1964, WDIV adds.

"Writers should be at their desk, not at Starbucks serving coffee," she tells the Associated Press.

Sam Zell owns the Chicago Tribue and Los Angeles Times and other media properties.

The university's news release is here.