Albion College receives $10 million gift from Joe and Julie Serra

Joe and Julie Serra just handed Albion College a $10 million unrestricted commitment, marking the largest outright gift in the school history. Joe Serra graduated from Albion in 1982 after co-captaining the basketball team and now runs Serra Automotive, one of the nation's largest privately held auto dealer groups founded by his father in Grand Blanc. His wife Julie is a retired kindergarten teacher from Michigan State. The couple wanted the money to be completely unrestricted so school leaders can use it where it matters most, from student scholarships to a redesigned core curriculum and hands-on learning guarantees. "We don't want to tie their hands; we want to strengthen them," the Serras said. Albion College President Wayne Webster noted that the huge gift arrives as the school works through its strategic plan, slashes an old $16 million budget deficit, and triples its fundraising. Within six months of graduation, 98 percent of Albion graduates land jobs, grad school slots, or service programs, while alumni rank in the top 20 percent nationally for earnings a decade out. The Serras are long-time donors who previously funded a $5 million fitness center expansion in 2019 and a $1 million renovation of the historic Kresge Gymnasium in 2024. For local business owners watching family fortunes at work, a $10 million check is a serious reminder of what happens when a hometown dealership group hits the big time. At least the gym floor looks brand new.