By By Jonathan Raymond, News Staff

‘ In a tough economic climate like today’s, a major factor that aids in recovery is often the type of innovations that help create jobs and spur overall growth. It is with this in mind that Richard D’Amore, a 1976 Northeastern graduate, pledged $5 million to his alma mater, the university announced Monday.
D’Amore’s donation is intended to establish the Anthony and Mary D’Amore Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund, which will be used ‘to promote entrepreneurial research activities that take place at the intersection of academic disciplines,’ according to a press release from Northeastern. D’Amore said his time at Northeastern engendered a sense of loyalty to the school that motivated him to make the donation.
‘Northeastern made a huge difference in my life. I got good support from the school and the professors, so I felt like I owed something back,’ he said. ‘I’ve been incredibly impressed with the progress the school’s made, particularly the direction [President Joseph Aoun] is taking. It was just a point in my life where I felt [it was important] to make a donation.’
In the press release, President Aoun lauded D’Amore’s post-Northeastern career and expressed gratitude for the contribution.
‘Richard D’Amore is an outstanding example of someone who has turned innovation and entrepreneurship into a remarkable career that has launched countless successful ventures, both here in greater Boston and around the world,’ he said in a statement. ‘We are deeply grateful for his commitment to Northeastern and his confidence in our ability to create and translate knowledge at the intersection of disciplines.’
D’Amore said the swift economic downturn actually motivated him to make his donation sooner, rather than later, in order to help the school at a time when it could use it most.
‘I had always intended to [make a donation], but I think when the storm hit last fall, I decided it would be a particularly good time to do it,’ he said. ‘There’s a lot of bad news, a lot of pressure on the university and the program, and this creates a little more flexibility.’
D’Amore is a general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners, a Boston and San Mateo, Calif.-based early stage venture capital firm he helped found in 1994. He made a previous contribution to Northeastern with Alan S. McKim, class of ’88, when they endowed the McKim-D’Amore Distinguished Professorship of Global Management and Innovation.
He said he hoped ultimately for the money to encourage further academic intersections that result in the kind of fresh ideas that will eventually revive the economy.
‘I always believe there’s a lot of excellent things, like the high tech MBA program, like the program that goes on between business and engineering,’ he said. ‘I think there’s a lot more opportunities for that across the university. I think it just gives the school the flexibility to get some of those initiatives going, and I think they’ve done a good job on it and I’d like to see it continue and I hope this helps that.’