{"id":19830,"date":"2026-02-16T11:29:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=19830"},"modified":"2026-02-16T12:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T17:27:13","slug":"white-family-foundation-commits-25m-to-support-victories-heroes-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/Q1\/white-family-foundation-commits-25m-to-support-victories-heroes-campaign","title":{"rendered":"White Family Foundation commits $25M to support \u2018Victories & Heroes\u2019 campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 On Saturday (Feb. 14), Purdue University President Mung Chiang announced a $25 million commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to the university and \u201cVictories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue.\u201d<\/a> The gift will support three of the university\u2019s strategic initiatives: Purdue\u2019s comprehensive urban expansion in Indianapolis, $10.2 million; One Health, $1.9 million; and the Mitch Daniels School of Business, $12.9 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White Family Foundation has been a key strategic partner for Purdue over the years, spearheaded by Dean and Barbara\u2019s son, Bruce (BS management \u201975), and daughter-in-law, Beth (BS nutrition science \u201987). Bruce, who died in January 2023, was founder and chairman of White Lodging. A former member of the Purdue Board of Trustees (2011-15), he was among the inaugural inductees into the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Hall of Fame. White was also a highly regarded advocate and influencer for numerous hospitality, business and civic organizations, with his associated values and vision still active today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiang made the announcement during the President\u2019s Council luncheon at the Purdue for Life Foundation\u2019s Annual Week in Naples, Florida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince launching the public phase in 2025, our ongoing campaign for the future victories and heroes of Purdue students and faculty has been even more successful than we anticipated, and this monumental gift will accelerate and amplify progress across three of the four strategic pillars,\u201d Chiang said. \u201cThe Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation has long been an impactful leader and philanthropic partner in advancing excellence at scale, and few Boilermakers have been more dedicated than Bruce and Beth White. Bruce will always be remembered as one of our greatest Boilermakers \u2014 a dedicated citizen and inspiring leader. We are deeply grateful that Beth and the Foundation have chosen to support Purdue’s strategic directions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gift will support Purdue\u2019s expansion of the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) program to Indianapolis in fall 2026. Launching HTM in Indianapolis will enable Purdue to establish new partnerships with industry, expand its statewide impact, and support talent development for current and expanding hospitality and tourism infrastructure investment in the capital city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Indianapolis skyline featuring the JW Marriott Indianapolis hotel, which is owned by White Lodging. (Photo used with permission)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The move will also help Purdue HTM build on recent momentum: The program rose to No. 3 nationally and No. 7 globally<\/a> in the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in 2025 and has seen strong interest from prospective students for both the West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations, reflecting the program\u2019s reputation for providing world-class educational experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPurdue University is dedicated to attracting and retaining Indiana\u2019s best and brightest talent, expanding the number of enrolled students to keep up with demands from students and industry. This foundational investment in HTM in Indianapolis certainly sets us up for success,\u201d said Ceridwyn King, the associate dean for Indianapolis and strategic initiatives for the College of Health and Human Sciences and White Lodging Services Head of Hospitality and Tourism Management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis gift is timely because it will allow us to provide competitive scholarships, faculty and programming that will launch the program with strength,\u201d King said. \u201cWe are deeply grateful for the White Family Foundation\u2019s continued support and investment in future \u2018hospitalitarians,\u2019 who will propel the hospitality and tourism industry forward through excellence and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This contribution from the White Family Foundation will also provide ongoing support for the Brush Creek Frontier Summit, an annual thought leadership conference for the Daniels School where Purdue leaders engage in high-level discussions with national figures on business, policy and ethics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Whites and the White Family Foundation have a long history of impactful giving to Purdue in support of HTM, the Daniels School and thought leadership, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n