Purdue University celebrates record-breaking participation on Purdue Day of Giving

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A record number of gifts for Purdue Day of Giving came in from Boilermakers around the world who rallied together for Purdue University on Wednesday (April 24).

Throughout the 24-hour online, social media-driven fundraising effort, a historic 32,054 gifts brought in $76.5 million for the university — bringing Purdue Day of Giving’s cumulative total since its launch in 2014 to $497 million.

“As we celebrate the culmination of yet another remarkable Purdue Day of Giving, we are ever grateful for the extraordinary generosity of Boilermakers around the globe,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “Running with students on campus to raise funds for student organizations is again the highlight of my spring semester. Together you have shown the world what’s possible when we rally together for this great university. With each contribution, you demonstrated your steadfast commitment to advance excellence at scale and to support our students and faculty. Thank you for believing in Purdue University and rallying behind giant leaps and endless possibilities.”

Purdue Day of Giving encompasses all of the university’s campuses — West Lafayette, Purdue Fort Wayne and Purdue Northwest — as well as Purdue Global. In addition to the money raised from donors, participating programs competed for cash prizes through more than 30 different challenges.

All gifts on Purdue Day of Giving are donor-directed, which means donors are able to choose the areas and initiatives that receive their support. Gifts came in from all 50 states and ranged from $10 to $10 million, including:

• A transformational gift from Marv and Melanie Richardson, supporting the College of Pharmacy.
• $10 million from James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo, supporting the Department of Chemistry in the College of Science.
• $500,000 from Marilynn Dammon, split evenly between the Clarence E. Dammon Dean’s Scholars Program in the College of Liberal Arts and the Bottomley Scholars Program in the School of Mechanical Engineering.
• $250,000 from Celeste Bottorff to Purdue Athletics, supporting Purdue Swimming and Diving scholarships.
• A major gift from Scott and Jacquelyn Renwick, supporting scholarships in the Integrated Business and Engineering program, which is housed within the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business.
• $100,000 from Tara Collingwood, supporting College of Health and Human Sciences students pursuing a master’s degree in dietetics.
• $50,000 from Sandy Bish for the LGBTQ Center, supporting student travel and conference expenses.
• $25,000 from the Alpha Theta chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, supporting breast cancer research through the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.
• $1,000 from Andrew Hayes, supporting Purdue Global Law School scholarships.
• $20 from Evan Coblentz, a Purdue junior in the College of Agriculture and vice president of philanthropy for the Purdue Foundation Student Board, supporting the Purdue Equestrian team.

Also, for the first time ever, Purdue Extension had 100% participation, with all Extension offices across Indiana’s 92 counties receiving at least one gift.

During a day of transformational generosity for the university, students in West Lafayette were able to experience the transformation of Memorial Mall for the Purdue Day of Giving student experience.

Memorial Mall served as the finish line for President Chiang’s “Run & Rally.” Students, faculty, staff and neighbors were invited to participate in the run, which began on the steps of Hovde Hall.

Students were then able to enjoy free food and Purdue’s first-ever selfie museum, which included interactive stations such as a ball pit, murals, walls of doughnuts and Purdue-themed rubber ducks and an oversized Purdue swing.

“It is always a privilege to watch the Boilermaker community rally together, which is why this is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Matt Folk, president and CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation. “The generosity of our alumni and friends advances Purdue in countless ways and inspires the innovations, creations and accomplishments of our campus community. To everyone who participated, whether by making a gift or sharing your Purdue pride with others: Thank you.”

To view highlights from Purdue Day of Giving, including the leaderboards and winners of the hourly challenges, visit dayofgiving.purdue.edu. 

About the Purdue for Life Foundation

The Purdue for Life Foundation helps alumni and friends of Purdue University stay connected, get involved and give back. Created in March 2020, the foundation deepens alumni ties to Purdue, drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family’s postgraduation lives and works with alumni and friends to garner support for the university.

Writer: Christina Egbert

Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu