Just in : Frank Kendrick Announces $500 Million Donation to Elevate Purdue Boilmakers Athletics

June 17, 2025 – A viral rumor has begun circulating that former Purdue Boilermakers standout Frank Kendrick has pledged an astounding $500 million to bolster Purdue athletics. If confirmed, this gift would rank among the largest individual donations in the history of collegiate sports. However, as of today, no credible evidence—from Purdue University, Kendrick himself, or reputable media outlets—supports this bold claim.

Frank Kendrick’s legacy is rooted in basketball history, not megadonations. He starred for Purdue from 1971–1974, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors, leading the Boilermakers to the 1974 NIT Championship, and later winning an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 1975 . He returned to Purdue as an assistant coach under Gene Keady (1989–1999), helping shape the program’s success .

Tragically, Kendrick passed away in December 2024, ending a storied relationship with Purdue . His contributions to the program were celebrated on campus and in the community—but they did not include any public megadonations.

Purdue Athletics has seen major philanthropic gifts, though none from Kendrick. In 2022, Purdue received a record $20 million gift for golf facility upgrades from alumni Samuel and Marsha Allen . Overall, Purdue’s athletic programs are funded by a combination of alumni giving, booster campaigns like Forging Ahead, and coordinated donor efforts—but no individual gift has approached $500 million .

There is no mention of Kendrick in any donor registries or campaigns. Gifts of that scale demand university acknowledgment and wide media coverage. Yet no press releases, institutional acknowledgments, or articles attest to such a contribution from Kendrick.

So how did the rumor begin? Likely, it stems from confusion with major university fundraising drives—like Purdue’s record-breaking $110.8 million Day of Giving in April 2024 —or misinterpretation of collective donor campaigns as personal pledges. In universities, such large sums typically accumulate across multiple patrons, not a single donor.