Santa Monica : $100,000 for Student Union

Santa Monica College has received the largest private donation in its history, a $100,000 gift from a Santa Monica businessman that will be used to build a $1.2-million student union.

Donor James Cayton and his wife, Lucille, are active in various support groups for the college, officials said. Cayton, retired founder of Louverdrape Inc., is a member of the board of directors of Santa Monica College Associates and serves on the Santa Monica College Foundation. Lucille Cayton is a member of the President’s Council for the Advancement of Santa Monica College.

In addition to the $100,000 donation and a $600,000 pledge from the Associated Students, the college is seeking additional private funding for the project, officials said. The new student center, to be built as a second story over the current student activities building and cafeteria, will be named after Cayton. It will be the first time a building on campus has been named for an individual, officials said.