$128 Million Gift of Philip Forbes Holton '29 and Ruth Clark Holton '29 Noted in Story

October 29, 2003

October 29, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - "The widow of McDonald's Corp. owner Ray Kroc has left $50 million to the University of Notre Dame for the campus peace studies institute named for her, the university announced Tuesday," begins a story in today's Indianapolis Star. "The bequest from Joan B. Kroc, who died Oct. 12, is the single largest gift in the history of the private university and one of the largest from an individual donor to any college in the state." Writer Barb Berggoetz notes, "DePauw and Purdue universities also have received major gifts from individual donors in recent years. The late Philip Holton, the former president of Inland Container Corp., donated $128 million to DePauw through a series of gifts in the 1990s. William E. Bindley, chief executive officer of private equity firm Bindley Capital Partners in Indianapolis and Naples, Florida, gave $52.5 million to Purdue last year."

Access the complete story at the Star's Web site by clicking here. The Holton's generosity was also cited in the March 8, 2001 edition of the Wall Street Journal (read more here). The gift by Philip Forbes Holton '29 and Ruth Clark Holton '29 was used to establish Holton Scholarships, which are awarded to students based upon their academic achievement, demonstrated leadership abilities and their commitment to community service. More than 180 current students are Holton Scholars. Read more here.

On October 12, 2002, DePauw dedicated its academic quad to the Holtons. Read more and access photos and video and audio clips in this previous story.

Back