Baird Honors Purcell with Brenton H. Rupple Award
MILWAUKEE, June 14, 2019 – Baird,an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets and private equity firm, has named Baird Chairman Paul E. Purcell the 2019 recipient of the Brenton H. Rupple Citizenship Award, the firm’s highest community service honor. The award, which is bestowed on one associate each year for his or her outstanding dedication to community service, leadership and support, was presented to Purcell at Baird’s annual meeting and 100th anniversary celebration on June 13. The award includes a donation from Baird Foundation to the charity of Purcell’s choice.
Purcell is the 22nd recipient of the award, first presented in 1998 to the late Brenton Rupple, Sr., former Baird President and Chairman of the Board. Rupple devoted countless hours throughout his life to more than 40 civic and charitable organizations and college boards.
“Paul has not only embodied community service at Baird, his work in multiple geographies has created an entirely new standard of what it means to give back to our communities,” said Baird President & CEO Steve Booth. “While he has an array of causes, his passion and energy toward education is extraordinary and has been a source of inspiration to all of us.
Purcell is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a network of 35 Catholic schools that provide a college preparatory education and access to a corporate work study program to young people who live in urban communities with limited educational options. He is co-chair of the board of Teach for America - Milwaukee and chair of the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business Advisory Council. He also serves on the Alverno College Board of Trustees, the Greater Milwaukee Committee’s Board and Executive Committee, the Junior Achievement of Chicago Board of Directors and the board of Year Up Chicago. He has also served on the boards of United Way of Greater Milwaukee, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, United Performing Arts Fund and Discovery World. He has also dedicated his time to helping ensure the future of Milwaukee’s Parental School Choice Program, which gives low-income families in Milwaukee the opportunity to choose the city school – public or private – they believe will best meet the needs of their child.
“Paul is unwavering in his desire and determination to do what is best for kids in our community,” said Andrew Stith, Founding President of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee. “His wisdom and active involvement in our school’s success always culminates humbly with two words, ‘Kids win!’”
In honor of his leadership and dedication to the community, Purcell has received the following honors:
- The University of Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished Corporate Alumni Award, 2009
- Harvard Business School Club of Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year, 2012
- Three Harbors Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen’s Award, 2013
- Milwaukee Public Library Benjamin Franklin Award, 2013
- Midtown Educational Foundation Reach for Excellence Award, 2014
- Medical College of Wisconsin Warren P. Knowles Humanitarian Award, 2014
- United Community Center “Friends of the Hispanic Community Award,” 2015
- CFA Society Milwaukee Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016
Most recently, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School presented Purcell and his wife, Patti, with the Rey of Hope Award at the ¡VIVA! 2019 fundraiser in Chicago.
Baird’s commitment to the community
Baird has a long tradition of giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Baird Foundation provides support to many charitable organizations supported by our associates, and in 2018 contributed $4.1 million to non-profit organizations. Through the Baird Cares program, associates receive two paid days off each year to volunteer for the charity of their choice. Associates also organize Baird Gives Back Week, an event held annually in the spring. In 2019, nearly 2,100 associates and family members volunteered more than 7,500 hours to 169 non-profit organizations.
In honor of its 100th anniversary, Baird created a special firm-wide community support initiative called “100 Days of Giving.” The program recognizes 100 randomly selected associates who participated this year in Baird Gives Back Week with a $1,000 donation to the non-profit organization of their choice.
To learn more about Baird’s 100th and success over the years, please visit www.baird100.com and follow the hashtag #Baird100.
About Baird
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019, Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets, and private equity firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Baird has approximately 3,600 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients and $208 billion in client assets as of Dec. 31, 2018. Baird is the marketing name of Baird Financial Group. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s investment banking and private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s website at www.rwbaird.com.
For additional information, contact:
Marianne Foster
Baird Public Relations
(414) 298-1906