WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – As a result of the John Purdue Club's Forging Ahead fundraising campaign, Purdue Athletics announced Wednesday the first-ever Boilermakers Beyond Borders travel program.
Forging Ahead launched in September 2023 with an $18.69 million fundraising goal, which will serve a significant role in allowing coaches and staff to recruit, retain, and develop championship teams in today's world of college athletics. Additionally, the resources will further enhance the Purdue student-athlete experience, making life-changing opportunities like Boilermakers Beyond Borders a reality.
Boilermakers Beyond Borders will help answer a call to action from both student-athletes and underdeveloped countries around the world. For years, Purdue's student-athlete development team, EMPOWER, has received recurring requests from student-athletes who wish to pursue study abroad opportunities. Until now, EMPOWER has not been able to fulfill the requests due to budgetary restrictions and the demands of varying sports schedules of 18 Boilermaker sport programs. Boilermakers Beyond Borders will take place in the summer, allowing student-athletes to expand their worldview without missing practice or playing time.
Every student-athlete will be responsible for fundraising a small portion of the trip expenses, but EMPOWER has also chosen to launch an open philanthropic campaign to support overall costs through the Forging Ahead campaign. Those who wish to donate to the initiative can visit johnpurdueclub.com or give directly by clicking here. Please note, contributions to Boilermakers Beyond Borders will not count toward John Purdue Club membership; however, all gifts will be rewarded with double John Purdue Club Priority Points.
Boilermakers Beyond Borders participants will grow as global citizens while helping disadvantaged communities through a service-based culture immersion experience. The program will host up to 20 student-athletes and five Purdue Athletics staff members who will work to build a multi-surface sports court for youth in an underdeveloped country. In their free time away from the construction project, the group will learn about the traditions, language, cuisine, ecosystem, and wildlife of the community they are serving. The inaugural Boilermakers Beyond Borders trip will launch with its first expedition in Costa Rica this summer with a humanitarian group called Courts for Kids. Purdue will become the first athletics program in the Big Ten Conference to partner with Courts for Kids.
Courts for Kids is a mission-based agency that builds courts and cultural exchange for youth in underdeveloped countries. The organization focuses on empowering its people and partners through community-driven work that expands worldview, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and inspires servant leadership.
If you would like more information or have questions, please contact your Boilermaker Athletics Representative or the John Purdue Club offices at 765.494.2582. To learn more about Courts for Kids, visit courtsforkids.org.
Forging Ahead launched in September 2023 with an $18.69 million fundraising goal, which will serve a significant role in allowing coaches and staff to recruit, retain, and develop championship teams in today's world of college athletics. Additionally, the resources will further enhance the Purdue student-athlete experience, making life-changing opportunities like Boilermakers Beyond Borders a reality.
Boilermakers Beyond Borders will help answer a call to action from both student-athletes and underdeveloped countries around the world. For years, Purdue's student-athlete development team, EMPOWER, has received recurring requests from student-athletes who wish to pursue study abroad opportunities. Until now, EMPOWER has not been able to fulfill the requests due to budgetary restrictions and the demands of varying sports schedules of 18 Boilermaker sport programs. Boilermakers Beyond Borders will take place in the summer, allowing student-athletes to expand their worldview without missing practice or playing time.
Every student-athlete will be responsible for fundraising a small portion of the trip expenses, but EMPOWER has also chosen to launch an open philanthropic campaign to support overall costs through the Forging Ahead campaign. Those who wish to donate to the initiative can visit johnpurdueclub.com or give directly by clicking here. Please note, contributions to Boilermakers Beyond Borders will not count toward John Purdue Club membership; however, all gifts will be rewarded with double John Purdue Club Priority Points.
Boilermakers Beyond Borders participants will grow as global citizens while helping disadvantaged communities through a service-based culture immersion experience. The program will host up to 20 student-athletes and five Purdue Athletics staff members who will work to build a multi-surface sports court for youth in an underdeveloped country. In their free time away from the construction project, the group will learn about the traditions, language, cuisine, ecosystem, and wildlife of the community they are serving. The inaugural Boilermakers Beyond Borders trip will launch with its first expedition in Costa Rica this summer with a humanitarian group called Courts for Kids. Purdue will become the first athletics program in the Big Ten Conference to partner with Courts for Kids.
Courts for Kids is a mission-based agency that builds courts and cultural exchange for youth in underdeveloped countries. The organization focuses on empowering its people and partners through community-driven work that expands worldview, fosters cross-cultural understanding, and inspires servant leadership.
If you would like more information or have questions, please contact your Boilermaker Athletics Representative or the John Purdue Club offices at 765.494.2582. To learn more about Courts for Kids, visit courtsforkids.org.