UArts president Miguel Angel Corzo said, "The University of the Arts is most grateful for Mrs. Hamilton's vision, commitment and generosity. Without her, UArts would not be where it is today. With her, there is no limit to what we will accomplish. She understands that the arts are a force for change and transformation in today's world and pushes that agenda by strongly supporting our mission."

"I have watched The University of the Arts grow for over three decades and am proud of its accomplishments," said Hamilton, who is 78. "I believe the future of the arts lies in its capacity to nurture the development of a global society. Creativity and innovation are powerful forces in today's economy and must be recognized as such."

A chairman emerita and life trustee on the UArts board, Hamilton is the granddaughter of John T. Dorrance, a chemist who invented condensed soup for the Campbell Soup Company in 1897.

The University of the Arts is, according to the statement, the nation's first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. It has 2,300 students in undergraduate and graduate programs in Philadelphia.