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$20 million gift to support DePauw Trust, other initiatives
DePauw University has received a $20 million gift from Don and Barbara Daseke for the DePauw Trust and other vital initiatives at the liberal arts college, President Brian W. Casey announced.
The gift was revealed as a surprise addition to the current Campaign for DePauw Thursday night during a dinner honoring the president.
Casey will assume the presidency at Colgate University on July 1 and Mark McCoy will lead DePauw as its 20th president.
With the gift, The Campaign for DePauw has raised more than $286 million toward a stated goal of $300 million. Of the stated priorities, gifts and commitments to The DePauw Trust -- DePauw's endowment for need-based support -- have now eclipsed $70 million.
Don Daseke, a DePauw trustee since 1985, earned his degree in economics in 1961 and was a Rector Scholar at DePauw. He received his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and is also a graduate of Harvard's President Program in Leadership.
He is the chairman, president and CEO of Daseke Inc., one of the largest open deck/specialty trucking companies in North America.
Daseke received the Old Gold Goblet, DePauw's highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus, in 2010, and was awarded the university's McDermond Medal for Business and Entrepreneurship in 2015.
"This is a remarkable and significant gift," President Casey said. "As longtime and loyal supporters of the university, this contribution continues the impact Don and Barbara have had on DePauw. It has been an honor to work with and know them over the course of my time at DePauw and I am eternally grateful for their support."
The Dasekes are longtime residents of Addison, Texas, and are involved in many other philanthropic endeavors focused on the arts and education.
Barbara Daseke is the owner of a successful interior design firm and has adopted DePauw as ar philanthropic passion.