Contact: Name: Brian Dorrington Phone: (414) 333-8995 Email: brian.dorrington@marquette.edu
MILWAUKEE – Marquette University and alumnus Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC’s The Profit, are teaming up to launch a $1 million giving challenge on Jan. 5, 2016. The challenge will run through March 12, and Lemonis will donate up to $300,000 of his own funds.
Through the challenge, Lemonis is hoping to attract members of the Marquette community who don’t normally give to the university. He came up with the idea to “create awareness because every dollar matters.”
“Many people have graduated from Marquette and their experiences attending the university have been a real blessing in their lives,” Lemonis said. “I believe in philanthropy that is affordable and meaningful, and it is important that even more members of our alumni community are engaged with the university that gave a lot to them.”
Lemonis’ goal is to combine efforts with the university to raise a total of $1 million. He will donate $100,000 for every $250,000 the university raises, with a personal cap of $300,000. There is no minimum donation for individuals who contribute as part of the challenge. The maximum donation for individuals is $5,000.
“It is incredibly inspiring when a Marquette alumnus goes on to achieve such high levels of success, but it is even more meaningful when they give back to future generations,” President Michael R. Lovell said. “We are energized by the passion and vision brought forth by Marcus, and we are looking forward to this challenge.”
Lemonis, a 1995 Marquette alumnus of the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, is the chairman and CEO of Camping World, the nation’s largest RV and outdoor retailer, and Good Sam, the world’s largest RV owner’s organization. On The Profit, he assists struggling businesses around the country from a variety of industries.
