Family matriarch Lora Robins died at age 98 in August, leaving a legacy of generosity at such cultural stalwarts as Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the University of Richmond. To UR, which she and her late husband, E. Claiborne, gave more than $200 million during their lifetimes, she left an additional $10 million. Their son, entrepreneur E. Claiborne Jr., carries on a strong Richmond presence, staying active with the university, the Richmond SPCA and Maymont. His sister, Ann Carol Marchant, is back on UR’s board of trustees after departing during the friction-filled tenure of the previous university president.

2010 Ranking:12