St. Louis philanthropists Andrew and Barbara Taylor have committed $10 million to support scholarships for undergraduate students at Washington University in St. Louis, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced. The Taylors’ gift brings the total raised to date for Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University to $2 billion.
The Taylor gift will add to the existing Enterprise Holdings scholarship fund established by the parent company of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. Andrew Taylor is the executive chairman of Enterprise Holdings and a trustee of Washington University. He serves as chair of the Leading Together campaign.
“This wonderful gift will help expand opportunities for outstanding students from all socio-economic backgrounds to attend Washington University,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “Scholarships are one of the most important priorities of the Leading Together campaign. A scholarship can transform the life of a deserving young scholar. We prepare students to become leaders with the character, insight and skills to address the most urgent challenges of the 21st century.
“Enterprise Holdings has a long tradition of giving back to the communities it serves, including support for thousands of local nonprofits focused on community improvement, education and environmental stewardship. We are most grateful to Andy and Barbara for their leadership and generosity. Their gift will have a lasting impact on our students and our society.”
The Taylor family and Enterprise Holdings established the largest scholarship fund at Washington University with a gift of $25 million in 2001. Ten years later, Jack C. Taylor, Andrew Taylor’s father, the founder of Enterprise Holdings, and an emeritus trustee of the university, gave an additional $25 million for scholarships on behalf of the company. Since the program began, Enterprise Holdings scholarships have provided financial assistance to 272 Washington University undergraduates.
“We’re proud to invest in talented students who aspire to attend Washington University,” Andrew Taylor said. “The university makes extraordinary contributions to advance human health, inspire innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance the quality of life — not only in St. Louis, but across our nation and around the world. By helping to prepare the leaders of tomorrow, the university benefits not only its students, but everything they undertake throughout their lives.”
Enterprise Holdings Scholars demonstrate the impact of the support they have received. “I worked hard to get to Washington University, and the reason I can actually attend is the generosity of Enterprise Holdings and the Taylor family,” said senior Claudia Diaz, an Enterprise Holdings Scholar majoring in marketing and health care at Olin Business School. “Working with students and faculty who are this passionate, driven and hungry for knowledge has taught me to think in completely new ways. And it has been wonderful to spend time with and learn from my fellow Enterprise Holdings Scholars. Our scholarships make transformative experiences possible for us and allow us to form a campus family.”
Senior Bendel Fults, an Enterprise Holdings Scholar majoring in economics and African American Studies in Arts & Sciences, said his Washington University education has enabled him to realize his potential. “Where I come from, people don’t have much money — and they’re usually unable to leave our town,” Fults said. “I wouldn’t be here at Washington University without this scholarship support, and I’m extremely grateful. WashU has allowed me to build relationships with people of different backgrounds from all across the country and around the world. I’ve been proud to see my abilities and my perspective grow throughout my education here. I’ve learned I can make a difference in others’ lives.”
For aspiring students like Claudia and Bendel, the Enterprise Holdings Scholarship Program can make their dreams of attending Washington University come true. Enterprise Holdings Scholars are chosen based on academic merit, leadership and commitment to community service. The Enterprise Holdings Scholarship Program is open to all applicants, and is intended to help expand the diversity of the university’s student body. Approximately 10 percent of the Enterprise Holdings scholarships each year are reserved for high school graduates and community college transfer students from the St. Louis area.
“We are committed to helping all qualified students achieve their goals and aspirations,” Wrighton said. “Our goal is to ensure that no admitted student has to forgo the opportunity to attend Washington University because of financial reasons. We are very grateful to the Taylor family and Enterprise Holdings for helping so many talented students achieve their extraordinary potential.”
Enterprise Holdings
Enterprise Holdings and its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management together offer a total transportation solution, including extensive car sharing services, truck rental, corporate fleet management and retail car sales. With annual revenues of $19.4 billion and more than 91,000 employees, Enterprise Holdings and its affiliates own and operate more than 1.7 million cars and trucks.
Enterprise Holdings currently is ranked as one of America’s largest private companies. Furthermore, if it were publicly traded, Enterprise Holdings would rank on Fortune’s list of the 500 largest American public companies. Enterprise Holdings not only accounts for the largest airport market share in the U.S., but its domestic rental fleet is also one of the newest in the industry. The companies’ affiliate, Enterprise Fleet Management, provides full-service fleet management to companies and organizations with medium-sized fleets. Other transportation services marketed under the Enterprise brand name include Enterprise CarShare, Enterprise Rideshare, Enterprise Car Sales, Enterprise Truck Rental, and Zimride by Enterprise. For more information about Enterprise Holdings, visit www.enterpriseholdings.com.