What a Difference a Day Makes!

April 28, 2023

Support Pours in to Purdue and College of Veterinary Medicine During Purdue Day of Giving

A chocolate lab enjoys some love from students who took some time to sit in the grass enjoying the sunshine on Wednesday
Passers-by were happy to make a gift in conjunction with taking a few minutes to interact with the Canine Educators during the college’s “Pet a Pup!” event on Purdue’s Memorial Mall.

It was a day much like any other 24 hour day. But Wednesday, April 26, also was a day unlike any other day for Purdue University, which hosted the most notable Purdue Day of Giving, yet, to benefit the university and all the colleges, including Purdue Veterinary Medicine. This year marked the 10th year for the annual event, which started at midnight Wednesday and ran for 24 consecutive hours. By the time the clock struck 12 the next night, the one day fund-drive had shattered the previous world record (also set by Purdue in 2022), raising a total of $110,802,950, donated in the form of 27,855 gifts!

The College of Veterinary Medicine ended the day with $1,451,193 raised through 226 gifts. The university also granted the college an additional $1,314 in bonus funds for ranking 13th on the donation leaderboard.

Special Purdue Day of Giving events also garnered attention for the college, including the “Pet a Pup!” session from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the Memorial Mall, featuring the popular Canine Educators. The loveable Beagles and Labradors soaked up all the attention while inciting passers-by to give donations in conjunction with the opportunity to pet the furry companions.

Dean Reed starts his leg of the relay event held as part of the Purdue Day of Giving events
Dean Willie Reed accepts Purdue Pete’s hammer from Golden Girl Emily Cowette, accompanied by members of the Purdue Space Program, along Marstellar Street near Lynn Hall during the Purdue Day of Giving relay. Led by the college’s Canine Educators, Dean Reed proudly carried the hammer on his leg of the run/walk.

The Canine Educators also stepped into the limelight with PVM Dean Willie Reed, as they accompanied him on his leg of the official Purdue Day of Giving Relay. The event featured student organizations and university celebrities who came together for the campus-wide relay run/walk that started at 12:15 p.m. at the corner of University Street and Stadium Avenue. At about 1:45 p.m., Dean Reed and the Canine Educators were in position to receive Purdue Pete’s hammer from Purdue Golden Girl Emily Cowette, who was accompanied by members of the Purdue Space Program, along Marstellar Street just north of Lynn Hall, and carry the unique baton to the next relay point. The relay ended with Purdue President Mung Chiang as the final baton recipient at 4:00 p.m. near Hovde Hall. Boilermakers were invited to either join him on the run or line the streets to cheer him on as he headed toward the conclusion on Memorial Mall, where he kicked-off a student celebration.

A Beagle stands with her front legs on a students leg who looks on smiling
Canine Educators had a busy day on Wednesday, April 26, spreading joy on Purdue’s campus during the “Pet a Pup!” event.

Other special College of Veterinary Medicine events during the Purdue Day of Giving included free donuts and coffee in the morning at the main Lynn Hall entrance. The incredible showing of support from PVM alumni, friends, faculty and staff, hospital clients, and students will have a huge impact. Donors to the Purdue Day of Giving gave to a variety of PVM programs including Priority 4 Paws, to support medical care for animals at partner animal shelters in Indiana; the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, to help meet equipment and other facility needs; PVM research programs, to assist with studies that lead to advancements in animal and human health; and scholarships that meet financial needs of students. 

To view the full summary of the day’s highlights, visit dayofgiving.purdue.edu. Thank you to all who supported the College of Veterinary Medicine during the Day of Giving by donating and participating in events and activities. Click here to view the Purdue Day of Giving Thank You video.

Students and pups join for a group photo in front of the Canine Educator banner on Purdue's Memorial Mall
Thank you to everyone who showed their support for the College of Veterinary Medicine during the 2023 Purdue Day of Giving!

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Behind the scenes, Alicia Williams has been making PVM a kinder, stronger place.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Computational Biologist Uses Big Data, AI and Math to Find Patterns in Cancer

With recent advances, cancer research now generates vast amounts of information. The data could help researchers detect patterns in cancer cells and stop their growth, but the sheer volume is just too much for the human mind to digest. Enter Nadia Lanman, research associate professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, whose expertise in computational biology helps researchers at Purdue University distill solutions from the sea of numbers.

Purdue to Host Fourth Annual Antimicrobial Conference in February

With leadership by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Fourth Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will be held at Purdue University West Lafayette February 25–26, 2026. With multidrug-resistant infections on the rise globally, this event brings together experts and practitioners across the spectrum of human, animal, and environmental health to address one of today’s most urgent public health challenges.

PVM Well-represented by Humans and Animals During Annual Homecoming Celebrations

Every fall, Boilermakers from near and far return to the campus in West Lafayette for the annual ritual known as Homecoming. And Purdue’s Homecoming events also attract plenty of non-alumni who are Purdue fans, patrons, prospective students, or clients of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. During this year’s Homecoming weekend October 24-25, Purdue Veterinary Medicine engaged with attendees in multiple ways, with the help of some furry companions.

Purdue University and Akston Biosciences Bring “First Dose of Hope” in New Cancer Immunotherapy Trial for Dogs with Urinary Bladder Cancer

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with Akston Biosciences Corporation, has initiated the enrollment of dogs with urinary bladder cancer in a clinical trial of a pioneering immunotherapy. The strategic partnership between Purdue and Akston was announced in August after the underlying technology was developed at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR).

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we share appreciation for Beth Laffoon, MS, RVT, and Holly McCalip, BS, RVT, who are both instructional technologists in the Veterinary Nursing Program.

MMAS Symposium Brings Participants Face to Face with Specialists and Species from Parrots to Pocket Pets

Thanks to Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Exotic Animal Club and dedicated faculty, staff and students, nearly 100 in-person and on-line participants got a chance recently to gain valuable knowledge and insight about the Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species. The two-day educational event known as the MMAS Symposium is a biennial conference, and the 2024 edition held in Lynn Hall November 9 and 10 featured an impressive program that included 22 lectures and several hands-on labs, organized into two tracks focusing on avian and mammalian species.

Veterinary Boilermakers Take Part in Purdue One Health Alumni Reunion

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff and students turned out for Purdue University’s first One Health Alumni Reunion, which was held on the West Lafayette campus November 14-16. They joined more than 150 Boilermakers from a variety of medical professions who came together to network and participate in timely discussions with Purdue President Mung Chiang, First Lady Kei Hui and fellow alumni.