Purdue University Northwest donors gave nearly $900,000 during Wednesday’s (4/26) fourth annual Purdue Northwest Day of Giving, establishing a PNW record for giving during the 24-hour event. This total put PNW in eighth place in giving among all Purdue University campuses and campus units.
The online, social media-driven Day of Giving spurred alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, community members and friends of PNW to take part in the Purdue University system-wide event in support of students and programs.
Some 440 donor gifts to PNW contributed to a record-setting, single day giving total of $28.2 million across all Purdue campuses and units. The total sets the record — for the third consecutive year — for most dollars raised for higher education through a single-day campaign. Purdue Northwest’s preliminary total as of Thursday was $883,229.
Highlighting the PNW impact “The success of Purdue Northwest Day of Giving highlights how much PNW means to our graduates, students, faculty, staff, friends and communities,” Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said. “We are truly grateful to all our donors for their generosity in giving financially, but also for taking time to reflect on how significantly PNW contributes to Northwest Indiana. It was an exciting day to advance the university as an engine for economic development, innovation, academic excellence and cultural diversity.”
Gifts to PNW, as designated by the donors, will be used to support student scholarships, academic programs, athletics and other university strategic initiatives.
A team success “Each and every Purdue Northwest Day of Giving donor played an important role in helping us to achieve this phenomenal total,” said Regina Biddings-Muro, vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement. “A true team effort creates this momentum in support of our students.
Donor Generosity Biddings-Muro noted that many PNW alumni, Northwest Indiana corporate partners and national supporters of the Purdue Northwest campuses contributed to the success of Purdue Northwest Day of Giving. Major announcements during the day included:
- The Milos Family Foundation committed a $100,000 matching gift donation to the Purdue Northwest College of Nursing. The family, bolstered by a family legacy of dedication to health care, is encouraging others to do the same to address the significant demands that will continue to grow in the health care field.
- Duneland Health Council of Michigan City made a gift of $30,000 to the PNW College of Nursing to fund scholarships to students from La Porte County. Duneland Health Council has partnered with the College of Nursing for more than 19 years.
- The Northwest Indiana McDonald’s Owners/Operators (NIMO) announced a $20,000 gift to the university in celebration of the Day of Giving. This is the third consecutive year NIMO has provided funds for the “Future Leaders” scholarship program.
- La Porte McDonald’s restaurant owner/operators Glenn and Sam Lubeznik made an in-kind donation of equipment valued at $273,000 to the PNW College of Engineering and Sciences.
- Alumnus Tom McDermott Jr., Mayor of the City of Hammond, and an anonymous fellow alumnus offered matching funds up to $20,000 to all alumni gifts made during the PNW Day of Giving.
Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two Northwest Indiana campuses in Hammond and Westville. With more than 15,000 students enrolled last fall and nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Purdue Northwest is Indiana’s fifth largest public university.
