University Development - Corporate Relations

Welcome to Corporate Relations at Purdue

We're here for you, ready to help you become more involved with Purdue. We can help you make connections throughout the University. Let us show you the many ways you can benefit from the discovery, learning, and engagement taking place at Purdue. And, when you're ready to consider making a gift, we'll help you identify options for supporting the University's aspirations to become the nation's premier land-grant institution.

Purdue University Development Office
Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center
403 West Wood St. West Lafayette, IN 47907
Ph 765-494-2728, 800-677-8780
Fax 765-496-2902

General Motors

A Centennial of Success

December 2, 2008

A century is a long time to be in business. For General Motors Corporation, it has been a century of leadership and achievements, of challenges and opportunities. A centennial is a great time to reflect on and celebrate the past. But for GM, it is more than that…it is an opportunity to look forward to their next 100 years.

In fall 2008, Dean Dennis Depew (left) accepted a check from Bill Muzzillo, GM’s University Relations Team Coordinator, to support Purdue initiatives and students.

It is precisely this kind of leadership that resulted in GM presenting a check to Purdue University in the amount of $180,000 to support research, student organizations, and Access & Success initiatives.

Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world, in six continents, over 200 countries, 23 time zones, and speaking more than 50 languages. Diversity at GM reflects the many perspectives and experiences each employee brings to their work. GM assembled a Diversity Initiative Team with a goal of supporting business objectives and the core value of Individual Respect and Responsibility. GM’s vision is to create a work environment of inclusion, where everyone fully contributes to customer enthusiasm.

GM also makes significant strides to lessen the environmental impact of their vehicles and develop new technologies to allow consumers to have cleaner, more efficient vehicles. Innovative technologies have helped improve environmental performance at their facilities and research is carried out to identify alternative sources of energy. Ultimately, GM expects hydrogen fuel cells to replace the internal combustion engine altogether. Fuel cells, which produce electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, emit clean water and nothing else.

In the meantime, GM offers a range of hybrid cars and trucks and continues to improve the internal combustion engine to provide better efficiency, fuel economy, and performance. They have already begun rolling out a range of technologies, including the fuel-saving Displacement on Demand. In the short run, these technologies will help protect the natural resources of the planet we all share, as they continue toward longer-term solutions.

GM is a great car and truck manufacturer with a long history of outstanding corporate citizenship. They invest in projects dedicated to improving health, safety and education, corporate responsibility, and innovation and technology. In 2007-08, General Motors contributed over $200,000 to Purdue. This included $12,450 from their dedicated employees, which GM graciously matched. This support affirms GM’s commitment to supporting excellence in education. Their efforts funded Purdue scholarships and fellowships, enhanced diversity and outreach initiatives, and helped explore innovative research projects.

Becoming a legend requires innovation. Remaining a legend requires hard work, diligence, and commitment. General Motors Corporation today stands at the juncture between their first and second centuries, between a tremendous heritage and a bright and exciting future. Purdue is very proud of our partnership with GM and we appreciate the opportunity to work together to help make that future a reality.

Purdue programs rank among the best in the nation!

Purdue's World Food Prize winner praises industrial partners

To view video, Click Here.

ExxonMobil Provides $2 Million in Grants to 85 Universities for Academic Programs - $77,500 given to Purdue

October 16, 2008

ExxonMobil Corporation announced recently that $2 million has been contributed in departmental grants to 85 colleges and universities throughout the country to support various academic programs. Through this program, Purdue University received $77,500 from ExxonMobil in October 2008.

The grants allow selected academic departments to allocate the money for various educational purposes including scholarships, field trips, visiting speakers, equipment purchases, student and faculty travel to academic-related activities, and other educational projects. ExxonMobil awards the grants based on schools that offer degrees in subjects from which it recruits employees.

“Supporting higher education has always been a strong priority for ExxonMobil” said Tom Marcotte, Global Recruiting Manager, ExxonMobil. “This program enables us to provide funding to colleges and universities who play a pivotal role in preparing students to enter the workforce. ExxonMobil is proud to provide support to Purdue University, which will help to enhance departments whose academic focus aligns with the workforce needs of ExxonMobil.”

The Departmental Grants Program represents only a portion of ExxonMobil’s overall support of education. In 2007, ExxonMobil Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided $70 million in contributions to educational initiatives worldwide. During the academic year 2007-08 ExxonMobil contributed over $197,000 to Purdue with an additional $342,000 in matching gifts.

Purdue University greatly appreciates ExxonMobil’s ongoing support. We’re very proud to join with ExxonMobil to ensure the Access & Success of more young people and we recognize them as one of our key corporate partners.

To learn more about ExxonMobil Corporate Citizenship, click here.

Corporate Citizenship and Employee Generosity

August 20, 2008

ExxonMobil presented a check to Purdue University in the amount of $326,669. Dick Grabham (BS Chem. Eng. 1970), Global Vice President, Polypropylene at ExxonMobil, presented the check to Murray Blackwelder, Purdue’s Senior Vice President for Advancement. The remarkable part about this gift is that it was initiated by the generous and devoted ExxonMobil employees – nearly 250 loyal alumni and friends of Purdue.

ExxonMobil employees, retirees, and their families make a habit of contributing their own time and money to charitable organizations. In 2007, this group personally donated $32.8 million through company-sponsored matching gift, disaster relief, and employee-giving programs. Initiated in 1962, the U.S. Educational Matching Gifts Program provides a phenomenal 3-to-1 matching gift rate for ExxonMobil employees and retirees who donate to higher education through the ExxonMobil Foundation.

At ExxonMobil, the commitment to corporate citizenship is taken seriously. They apply the same consistency, discipline, and ingenuity in meeting their social obligations as they do in managing their business. ExxonMobil employees are expected to integrate corporate citizenship into their work-related activities and decision-making processes and are encouraged at all levels to get involved, by making financial contributions and volunteering their time and services.

When combined with corporate donations, ExxonMobil, together with its employees and retirees, contributed $206.6 million to community investments around the world. In addition, 15,300 ExxonMobil employees, retirees, and family members worldwide donated more than 686,000 volunteer hours to more than 5,400 charitable organizations in 29 countries through company-sponsored volunteer programs.

Purdue University is extremely grateful for our longstanding relationship with ExxonMobil and their employees. We very much appreciate the past support and look forward to finding new ways to work together in the future.

To learn more about ExxonMobil Corporate Citizenship, click here.

Cummins Homepage

Cummins, Inc. – A Global Company Involved with a Global University

June 11, 2008

Cummins Inc., a multinational Fortune 250 company that manufactures, sells and services diesel engines, power generation equipment and related components and technologies, retains strong ties to its Indiana home, where it employs nearly 6,000 people – including a large number of Purdue graduates.

In keeping with its commitment to education and corporate responsibility, Cummins contributed nearly $2 million to Purdue University to be used to further research efforts, sponsor programs including the Global Supply Chain Management Initiative, assist student organizations, and fund a professorship and graduate assistantship at Purdue.

Funds were also earmarked for the Cummins Power Laboratory, which will be part of a new Ray W. Herrick Laboratory. The new laboratory structure will provide faculty and students the necessary space to expand leading-edge research on engine controls, emissions, electro-hydraulic, and electro-mechanical systems. The new laboratories will be uniquely suited for research on environmental problems such as air pollution, traffic noise, and global warming, and in the development of “smart” equipment and systems that detect and respond to changes in systems, the environment, and occupant’s needs.

Cummins has enjoyed record financial success in each of the past four years and has seen its global presence and workforce grow considerably during that time. The Company is poised for even more growth in the near future, with numerous expansion projects and new product launches planned as Cummins works to maintain its standing as a global leader in diesel engine and emissions technology.

Especially gratifying to the Company is that fact that Cummins has been able to achieve these results while remaining true to its core values of ethical business behavior and corporate responsibility as expressed in its Code of Business Conduct. The Company, which recently was named among the “most ethical companies in the world” by the Ethisphere Institute, prides itself on operating under a set of values that emphasize integrity, innovation, delivering superior results, corporate responsibility, diversity, and global involvement.

The Company’s corporate vision is to “make people’s lives better by unleashing the power of Cummins,” and that power is demonstrated through Cummins’ commitment to Purdue, its programs and its students. That continued support is greatly appreciated by the faculty, students, and staff and helps ensure that Purdue students are well prepared to take their places in a truly global business world.

Purdue University is very grateful to Cummins Inc. for their partnership and commitment. We look forward to continuing and enhancing our collaborations in the future.

University Development · Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center · 403 West Wood Street · West Lafayette, IN 47907-2007
(765) 494-2727 · (800) 677-8780 (toll free) · gifts@purdue.edu