June 23, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union has made a gift of $500,000 to Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics to support construction of golf and tennis facilities planned for campus.
The contribution continues the efforts of PEFCU to support the university's $1.3 billion Campaign for Purdue fund-raising effort.
The gift will be divided equally to help support two facilities, the Tom Spurgeon Golf Training Center and the Dennis J. and Mary Lou Schwartz Tennis Center. The announcement will be made prior to PEFCU's annual Community Business Partner Golf Outing at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Morgan J. Burke, director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the PEFCUs gift will assist in the upcoming construction of both facilities, improving the quality of both the golf and tennis programs at Purdue.
"PEFCU'S generosity will not only have a tremendous impact on our golf and tennis programs, positioning us with other elite programs, but their gift also will benefit the Lafayette-West Lafayette residents and students who also can enjoy these new, state-of-the art facilities," Burke said.
The Tom Spurgeon Golf Training Center will give Purdue an all-weather, 11,400-square-foot facility. The center will include an undulated indoor chipping and putting area, as well as a computerized video system to help golfers improve their swings and provide a virtual reality introduction to courses where Purdue golfers compete. Also included will be eight heated driving bays for year-round use. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
The center is named in honor of Tom Spurgeon, a Purdue alumnus from Peoria, Ill., who made the lead gift of $750,000 toward the $2.1 million center.
The Dennis J. and Mary Lou Schwartz Tennis Center is a 60,000-square-foot facility that will include playing courts, locker facilities, offices, a pro shop and seating areas for fans. It also will include outdoor courts that will be free and open to the public.
Lead donor Dennis Schwartz, a retired banking executive from Mishawaka, Ind., pledged $3 million toward the $7.2 million facility in honor of his late wife. Construction is expected to begin in 2005.
Bill Connors, PEFCU president and CEO, said that the gift ties the credit union's campus roots to the Lafayette and West Lafayette communities and is a continuation of the credit union's ongoing commitment of giving to various programs and departments at Purdue.
"We are grateful for the wonderful relationship that we have shared with both our friends on campus and in the community," Connors said. "We have the opportunity to touch the lives of students and enhance the campus, while also contributing to these two facilities that will boost the quality of life for our own community members."
In addition to the $500,000 pledge for the golf and tennis facilities, PEFCU already has given more than $144,000 to support various areas in the campaign effort in addition to pledging $120,000 in future gifts through 2007. Some of the areas benefiting include Purdue Convocations, Purdue Libraries and the John Purdue Club and WBAA Radio.
PEFCU also committed to funding a $20,000 endowed scholarship in undergraduate studies. PEFCU's cumulative giving is expected to near $800,000 before the campaign's end. Former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees will participate in the gift announcement and golf outing. During his career at Purdue, Brees was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist who was named Academic All-American Player of the Year. The San Diego Chargers drafted him in 2001. He has been a spokesperson for PEFCU since 2001.
Earlier this month, PEFCU opened a branch in the Purdue Memorial Union, making it the first full-service banking facility at the union. Founded in 1969, the credit union exceeds $400 million in assets, serving more than 56,000 members nationwide, including the Lafayette and West Lafayette communities.
The Campaign for Purdue, announced in the fall of 2002, has raised more than $924 million to support efforts to increase student scholarships; recruit and retain faculty; fund programs, centers, and facilities; and purchase equipment.