October 30, 2015
Our Moment: Recent $1 million campaign gifts
Palmisanos’ pledge supports School of Business
Robert J. Palmisano ’66 & ’89P and his wife, Jane ’89P, had already donated $1 million to the Our Moment campaign. But with the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in 2015 and Palmisano’s 50th class reunion approaching in 2016, they felt compelled to do even more — so they pledged another $1 million to the School of Business.
Palmisano is president and CEO of Wright Medical Group Inc. in Memphis, Tenn., a global orthopaedic solutions company. He is a member of the PC Board of Trustees and serves on the Finance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee.
Scanlons support Ryan Center with gift
Having supported the liberal arts with their gift to help build the Ruane Center for the Humanities, Edward L. Scanlon ’55 & ’00Hon. and his wife, Andrée, decided they needed to support the School of Business as well. They pledged an additional $1 million toward construction of the Arthur F. and Patricia Ryan Center for Business Studies.
The Scanlons said they are impressed with the leadership of College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 and School of Business Dean Dr. Sylvia Maxfield and are especially pleased that business education at PC is rooted in the liberal arts.
Scanlon, a retired executive vice president at NBC News, is an emeritus member of the PC Board of Trustees. A first-floor lecture hall in the Ruane Center for the Humanities is named for the Scanlon family. The Scanlons also endowed the Edward L. Scanlon ’55 Scholarship Fund.
Anonymous gift to fund research, internships, operations
A benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous has made a $1 million pledge to support three areas of critical importance to the College.
The alumnus is dedicating $600,000 for a new undergraduate research fund, $300,000 for a new student internship fund, and $100,000 for the PC Fund. The fund for undergraduate research will provide grants to support students who conduct research during the summer under the direction of a faculty member. The gift for internships will allow students to take paid positions with nonprofit organizations, also during the summer.
The PC Fund supports an array of annual operational needs of the College, including financial aid. The benefactor’s generous gift will establish endowments for the research grants and the internships, and thus provide funding for these areas in perpetuity.
