Learn by Doing Endowment
Ten years ago, 11 innovative industry leaders and philanthropists came together to create a Learn by Doing Endowment that would provide support to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for years to come.
Each founding member donated $100,000 to create a fund of $1.1 million that was used to perpetuate the impact of their original gifts through matching endowments from other generous individuals. Potential donors were encouraged to pledge a minimum of $12,500 over a five-year period, which was matched using the founding donors’ money to create a new $25,000 endowment.
The generosity of these founding individuals has inspired more than a decade of giving.— Russ Kabaker, assistant dean of advancement and external relations
Their generosity and vision led to 37 new donors who contributed more than $770,000, bringing the endowment total to more than $1.8 million. Since 2012, the endowed funds have generated earnings that have been used to purchase cutting-edge equipment and software for labs and provide other hands-on learning opportunities and programs for our students.
Recent enhancements to classrooms and laboratories made with earnings from the endowment include the purchase of an i-Stat machine (a handheld blood analysis tool used for cows and horses) for the Animal Science Department, a laboratory refractometer for the Food Science and Nutrition Department, and three Trimble GPS units forthe Natural Resources and Management and Environmental Sciences Department.
“The generosity of these founding individuals has inspired more than a decade of giving,” said Russ Kabaker, assistant dean of advancement and external relations. “The result is better-equipped classrooms, inspired students, and a future generation that is prepared to meet industry demands.”
Visit the Cultivate Spring 2019 Page to read more stories.