Indiana University East announced a $375,000 gift from First Bank Richmond during the Chancellor’s Medallion held tonight (November 3) at the Student Events and Activities Center on the IU East campus.

This new gift from First Bank Richmond will provide support for the IU East arts program, Red Wolves’ athletics, scholarships, Campus Life programs and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The gift will also continue First Bank’s tradition of providing a matching gift on IU Day. The gift helps solidify IU East’s role as an area leader in higher education, economic development and cultural enrichment.

IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe announced the gift during the dinner. She said this is one of the largest corporate gifts the IU East campus has received.

Garry Kleer

“This is an exciting day for IU East,” Cruz-Uribe said. “First Bank’s gift will provide new opportunities for our students and is another demonstration of their commitment to our campus and community. We appreciate their continued support and the confidence the bank’s leadership team has in IU East to be a major factor in our community’s growth.”

First Bank Richmond President and CEO Garry Kleer said the bank is pleased to make this major investment in IU East.

“IU East has seen tremendous growth over the past few years in enrollment, campus size and community involvement,” Kleer said. “First Bank is proud to be a part of their continued success and advancement. This partnership with IU East is part of First Bank’s dedication and commitment to the communities we serve.”

Kleer has also credited the university with contributing to the economic development of the region. “IU East is a great resource for our community. They provide a consistent pipeline of good talent who are committed to our region. They add to the fabric of life in our community through educational programming, cultural enrichment opportunities and activities such as their athletics program. The campus is important to our community and our future.”

In recognition of First Bank Richmond’s gift, IU East will rename the Whitewater Hall Community Room as the First Bank Richmond Community Room. The dedication ceremony will be held in early 2018.

Additionally, each fall the IU East men’s and women’s basketball teams will host the First Bank Richmond Classic, formerly known as the Red Wolf Classic.

This year, the First Bank Richmond Classic will be held during Homecoming week, November 4-5 for women’s basketball and November 10-11 for men’s basketball. Both tournaments will be held on Lingle Court at the Student Events and Activities Center. For further details about the First Bank Richmond Classic, visit iueredwolves.com.

Since 1987, First Bank Richmond has contributed over $300,000 to IU East, and with this new gift it raises the bank’s total giving to nearly $700,000. First Bank’s previous support to the campus was directed to School of Nursing and Health Sciences programming, scholarships and alumni engagement.

First Bank Richmond Vice President of Community Relations, Kimberly Poinsett, said, “First Bank has been a supporter of Indiana University East since its inception. This gift continues our commitment to the school and provides them with the necessary resources for continued growth and prosperity in our community and our region. We are ‘Doing Great Things Together.'”

In 2016, First Bank Richmond was recognized for its most recent major gift to campus, a $150,000 commitment to support building IU East’s Student Events and Activities Center. In honor of the bank’s generosity, IU East named the entrance to the center as the First Bank Richmond Atrium.

In April 2016, First Bank Richmond began a tradition of celebrating IU East on IU Day with a $10,000 matching gift opportunity for alumni and friends of the campus. IU Day is a 24-hour celebration of Indiana University and the people who make IU possible. The bank will offer this same opportunity for the next IU Day, April 18, 2018.

First Bank Richmond was established in 1887 and now includes branches in Richmond, Cambridge City, Centerville and Shelbyville.

During the Chancellor’s Medallion, IU East honored Greg Crider, Angie Dickman and Shaun Dingwerth for their service to the university and within the community. Also during the event, the IU East Alumni Association inducted Don Day, Timothy Frame and Regina McConnell into its Alumni Hall of Fame. The IU East Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates outstanding alumni of IU East.

This gift will count toward the $3 billion campaign, For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign. IU East’s campaign goal is $7 million, which will help fund a variety of campus initiatives, student scholarships and strategic projects. Find out more about IU East and ways to assist the campus at iue.edu/development.

For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in June 2020 to coincide with IU’s bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.

Founded in 1936, the Indiana University Foundation maximizes private support for Indiana University by fostering lifelong relationships with key stakeholders and providing advancement leadership and fundraising services for campuses and units across the university. Today, the IU Foundation oversees one of the largest public university endowments in the country, with a market value in excess of $2.1 billion.