You & Purdue community campaign begins today

The You & Purdue fundraising campaign kicks off today (May 16) to raise support for Purdue University programs serving Greater Lafayette.    

Through You & Purdue, donors can support any of the following five community-focused initiatives that improve the quality of life for local children, adults and animals.

The Big Read unites the community and University around great literature. Each year, the program features a selected book with complimentary copies provided to college and high school students, libraries, lifelong learning groups and local residents. To enhance the reading experience, the Big Read also schedules engaging events and activities related to the selected book.

The Susan Nierstheimer Book Fund helps local first-graders enrolled in reading intervention programs improve their reading skills. The initiative, which provides students with a bag of four selected titles, honors the late Susan L. Nierstheimer. An assistant professor of literacy and language at Purdue, she was passionate about getting books into the hands of children.

Priority 4 Paws provides regional shelter animals with essential medical and surgical care, including free spaying and neutering services. Students enrolled in Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine help complete the procedures, which gives them practical field experience and the opportunity to give back to the community.

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences serves local children and adults through two clinics. The M.D. Steer Speech, Language, and Swallowing Clinic evaluates and treats speech, language and cognitive disorders and provides therapy sessions to improve communication skills. The M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic helps evaluate and treat hearing issues and offers free hearing screenings several times a year.

Purdue Convocations connects local schools with an array of world-class performances and intellectual encounters. These include free in-person and virtual productions that enhance children’s education through the performing arts.

“As a Purdue graduate and lifelong resident of Greater Lafayette, I am proud to support You & Purdue,” says Gina Quattrocchi, Q1067 on-air personality. “Our community is a wonderful place to work, live and raise a family, and we’re fortunate to have a world-class university like Purdue in our backyard. Through this important campaign, we will make a positive difference for our friends and neighbors.”

You & Purdue runs through June 13. Visit crowdfunding.purdue.edu to learn more about each program and make a gift.