November 11, 2005
Purdue donors from Indianapolis to receive philanthropy award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University alumnus and his wife will be honored by an Indianapolis fund-raising group for their support of a variety of projects that have benefited the university and students in Indiana.
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Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen of Indianapolis will receive the Outstanding Philanthropist Award presented by the Indiana chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals during the 23rd annual Philanthropy Awards Dinner on Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.
Robert Bowen earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering at Purdue in 1962 and is chairman and chief executive officer of Bowen Engineering Corp. in Fishers, Ind. Terry Bowen is president of the Bowen Foundation.
The Bowens were nominated for the award by Murray Blackwelder, senior vice president for advancement at Purdue, for their numerous gifts to Purdue, including the Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research.
"Bob and Terry Bowen have shown tremendous support for Purdue in a number of ways," Blackwelder said. "They have contributed significantly not only structurally and monetarily, most notably through the Bowen Lab, but have also donated their time, talent and compassion.
"As past co-chairs of the Purdue President's Council and through their involvement as members of the $1.5 billion Campaign for Purdue, the Bowens have inspired countless other gifts to Purdue. And their leadership in the Bowen Foundation and Science Bound has inspired hundreds of students to reach the next level. Those truly are gifts that keep on giving."
The Bowen Lab, dedicated in 2003, is an $11 million facility that allows engineers to test structures such as bridges and buildings to determine how they will perform in real-life situations.
The Bowens established the Bowen Foundation 11 years ago to provide scholarships to underprivileged students in Marion County to help them pursue an education past high school. About 300 students have received more than $500,000 in scholarships through the foundation.
In addition, the Bowens are among the lead donors for Science Bound, a Purdue program initiated in 2002 designed to encourage eighth-grade to 12th-grade students from Indianapolis Public Schools to pursue careers in the sciences and technical fields. Upon acceptance, Science Bound students receive an opportunity to earn a full-tuition scholarship to Purdue to study in an approved technical field.
Robert Bowen said helping underprivileged students through these two programs is an issue close to their hearts.
"Terry and I believe the socioeconomic disenfranchisement of major groups of people is our nation's biggest problem and it's getting worse every day," he said. "Through our foundation and our involvement in Science Bound, we're trying to change the landscape of Indiana and Purdue."
The Bowens also funded an endowed chair in construction engineering in Purdue's College of Engineering.
Robert Bowen has received the Engineering Alumni Association Presidential Lifetime Service Award and is chairman for the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis, an organization that helps foster the development of minority youth in Central Indiana as future professional, business and community leaders.
In addition, Robert Bowen serves on the boards of directors of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.
Terry Bowen is involved with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is a member of the board of Ivy Tech Community College Foundation and is treasurer of the Assistance League of Indianapolis.
The Bowens are also members of the John Purdue Club and have served on the board of directors of the Fine Arts Society of Indianapolis. Bowen Engineering has sponsored the society's BBC World News broadcasts since 1990.
He and his wife say they give because they like making a difference.
"We love Purdue and do what we can to try to give help where it is needed," he said. "I've been very lucky in my career, so it's payback time. Giving back is one of my personal goals, and Purdue, under the leadership of Martin Jischke, is such an electric place. It's so exciting, you just want to be on the team."
The Philanthropic Awards Dinner is being conducted during National Philanthropy Week, Nov. 13-19.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals an association of individuals responsible for generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of nonprofit, charitable organizations. It was founded in 1960 and has more than 26,000 members in 174 chapters around the world.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Sources: Murray Blackwelder, (765) 496-2144, mblackwelder@purdue.edu
Betty Darbro, public relations chair for philanthropy awards, (317) 788-3474, brdarbro@fasindy.org
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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