University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 6, No. 1/1996 Recognition: A Special Report Prominent Alumni Boost Corporate Donations When a corporation makes a major donation to the University, the gift often grabs headlines. Newspaper and television reporters applaud the corporation's generosity and community activism. In many cases, however, the real newsmakers are the prominent University alumni who work behind the scenes to make corporate gifts happen. This year, for example, the University's list of 'corporate comrades' includes Kurt Akeley, Delaware '80, William Friend, Delaware '58M, Harry McVeigh, Delaware '72, and Linda Myrick, Delaware '77, plus dozens of other outstanding alumni. "Fund raising depends on the people-to-people component," says Elizabeth E. Neary, the University's director of corporate and foundation relations. "Whenever alumni can open a door or provide an introduction, it makes a big difference." Myrick played a key role in convincing three divisions of the FMC Corp. to chip in a total of $30,000 toward the new Allan P. Colburn Laboratory, home of the Department of Chemical Engineering. The gift honors more than 50 University alumni now working for FMC, one of the world's leading producers of chemicals and machinery for industry, government and agriculture. "FMC has employed many University graduates over the years," notes Myrick, business manager for hydrogen peroxide in FMC's peroxygen chemicals division. "We are indebted to the University for the excellent education they've provided to a number of our employees." As co-founder and vice president of Silicon Graphics Inc., Akeley arranged for the University to receive a $600,000 discount off high-performance visual computing systems for students. "I've tried to encourage the company to do well by the University," Akeley explains, "and Silicon Graphics values education." Thanks to McVeigh, Mobil Oil has donated $100,000 in support of the Colburn Laboratory. "We depend very heavily upon the University to provide employees who are well-trained and motivated to work in industry," says McVeigh, manager of Mobil's Paulsboro region. "Also, the University has done a great deal for me, so I always feel it's appropriate to try to give something in return." Today, Neary points out, corporations are increasingly interested in supporting specific projects and programs that benefit some aspect of business operations. For example, the Bechtel Group Inc., a global engineering-construction organization, designs facilities for the chemicals industry and numerous other fields. That's why Friend, Bechtel's executive vice president, helped arrange for a significant corporate donation to the Colburn Laboratory campaign. Dave Buzzelli, Delaware '66M, also put in a good word for the University with Dow Chemical, where he is vice president. Dow recently made a three-year, $75,000 commitment to the Colburn Campaign. Other Delaware alumni who have helped secure support for the Colburn Campaign from their respective firms include Dean Leib '61M, Rohm & Haas; Lee McMaster '64, Union Carbide; Jack Messman '62, Union Pacific Resources; and David Hoyer '53, Chevron Products USA. For information about corporate giving, call Neary at (301) 831-2104.