Alumni Give $85 Million to Name Wisconsin School of Business
The Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has received an unprecedented gift totaling $85 million from a small group of alumni who have formed the "Wisconsin Naming Partnership" to support the school's mission. This innovative partnership provides a naming gift that will preserve the Wisconsin name for at least 20 years. During that time, the school will not be named for a single donor or entity. This unprecedented naming partnership will uphold tradition and greatly enhance the value of the school to students, the campus and the state. Dean Michael Knetter commented "The generosity of these alumni will enable the business school to build on its reputation of leadership and innovation. It’s the sort of forward thinking you can expect from Wisconsin alumni." more stories
MBA ’06 graduate, Tony Tang, wanted to give back in a significant way to the Wisconsin School of Business. He decided that the best way to show his support and thanks for the education he received in operations and technology management would be to gift the entire sum of his first paycheck, more than $5,000 to the Erdman Center at the Wisconsin School of Business. “My experience in the Erdman Center and with Director Urban Wemmerlov was priceless– not only as a head start to a great career, but also in helping me form life values,” said Tony Tang. I am fortunate to maintain ties with the university by giving back and I hope other students and alumni have the same opportunities I did.” 
A group of alumni and friends from Accenture joined together to create the Accenture Leadership Center, the first undergraduate student center at the Wisconsin School of Business. The center, funded by several retired and current partners and employees of Accenture, will help students to develop and enhance their leadership and professional skills, better preparing them for the workforce when they graduate. “The ALC is an example of how our alumni can make a significant impact on the student experience at the school,” said Jim Wierzba, MBA ’79, one of the Accenture Partners leading this effort. “We didn’t wait to be asked, but saw an opportunity to reach out and ran with it.” 
Almost 600 alumni and friends have generated nearly $11 million in donations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Real Estate, which will be renamed in honor of the late James A. Graaskamp, a legendary figure in real estate education. The program is more than halfway toward its goal of raising $20 million over five years to maintain Wisconsin as a premier real estate program nationally. The new James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate will build upon Graaskamp's legacy and carry it forward, says Timothy Riddiough, center director. "We are extremely grateful to our alumni, Center for Real Estate Board of Advisors, and friends for helping us achieve this important outcome," he says.