Temple University has terminated a $55 million gift—the largest in the school’s history—after the donor’s company came under federal investigation, President John Fry announced in a letter to the campus community.
The gift came from Christopher M. Barnett, a 2010 Temple graduate who has also stepped down from the university’s board of trustees. His company, ABA Centers of America, which provides services to people with autism, is facing a federal probe into alleged wire fraud, money laundering and other offenses, according to court records. Fry said Barnett denies the allegations.
Fry described the termination as a mutual decision, made after Temple learned of the allegations. He said the university believes ending the gift was necessary, while crediting Barnett with cooperating throughout the process out of a stated desire to shield Temple from any fallout. Fry added that Barnett is recovering from a life-threatening medical event.
The gift, announced in October 2025, had been set to rename Temple’s College of Public Health as the Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health. That renaming will no longer happen, Fry said, and no payments toward the $55 million had been received before the termination.
Fry acknowledged the news would land hard within the college, calling it “deeply disappointing” for students, faculty, staff and alumni. He sought to reassure the community that the college’s standing wouldn’t suffer, describing it as “one of Temple’s strongest academic units” and pledging continued investment in its growth.
He also moved to frame the episode as separate from Temple’s broader fundraising trajectory, saying the termination “does not diminish the philanthropic momentum and strength of Temple.” He pointed to $159 million raised in fiscal year 2026—the most successful fundraising year in the school’s history.
“Our commitment to Temple’s mission of providing our students with an excellent education remains steadfast,” Fry said, “and we look forward to continuing this important work together.”
