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.