"I thought it was important that there be a loud sound at the starting gate," Knafel says, and so he gave Harvard $5 million.
But then he wanted to send another message to Harvard alumni: they could give to the campaign twice. So he gave another million.
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And he gave two more times, until his total gift was pushing $30 million.
Knafel, 67, has been the managing partner of SRK Management Company since 1981 and sold another of his business ventures, Vision Cable Communications to the Newhouse Media conglomerate.
With money to spare, Knafel has decided it's time to give back, and to encourage others to do the same through his example.
"Some people don't have that gene," he says. "But most do."