VINCINNES, Ind. – Ro and Charles “Shorty” Whittington of Columbus, have announced a first-of-its-kind and groundbreaking gift to Vincennes University (VU). The landmark gift will create a faculty endowment fund thanks to the couple.
The Whittington Endowed Faculty Fund represents VU’s first-ever faculty fund endowment, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to academic excellence and advancement. Their $750,000 gift will bolster faculty support and foster agricultural innovation.
“My wife and I want to build up kids to get them where they need to be,” Shorty Whittington said. “Our objective is to invest in Vincennes University faculty.”
Ro and Shorty Whittington, long-time philanthropists, have supported 4-H youth through scholarships for several decades. This donation continues their legacy of giving. The transformative gift from the Whittingtons’ Landmark Farm Foundation, Inc. is one of the largest individual donor gifts in recent years, underscoring the profound impact of philanthropy on VU’s continued success and growth.
The faculty fund will address critical challenges in talent recruitment and retention within highly competitive fields of study, particularly agriculture. With an initial focus on supporting faculty positions in the College of Technology and College of Business and Public Service, the fund will allocate stipends to five positions, enabling VU to attract and retain top-tier talent.
Shorty Whittington founded and was CEO of Grammer Industries in Columbus.
The announcement of Ro and Shorty Whittington’s philanthropy coincides with the VU Foundation’s fourth annual Blazers Give Day. The 24-hour event is on Thursday, April 4, from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (EDT). For more details on how to get involved in Blazers Give Day, visit vinu.edu/blazersgive.
