Scholarship Foundation Announces Historic $16.5 Million Donation
Capri Sun Founder Donates Record-Breaking $16.5 Million in Scholarships to Military Children
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation partners with Dr. Hans-Peter Wild to provide scholarships to thousands
ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 7, 2015) – Announced today, Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, German entrepreneur and innovator of the beloved international Capri Sun drink, has donated $16.5 million to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, America’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. The donation is the largest one-time gift in the Foundation’s history and will provide direct scholarship support to more than 3,000 sons and daughters of U.S. Marines and Navy Corpsmen over the next 10 years.
“Education is the most important thing you can give a child,” said, Dr. Hans-Peter Wild. “While America has the best education in the world, it also has the most expensive education in the world. To help the children of Marines is a very good thing. The American military saved Germany from the Nazis,” Wild said. “People forget so quickly what the Americans have done for us.“
The Wild donation of $16.5 million is a major financial milestone for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the only national scholarship program providing dedicated support to children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen. In addition to the need-based scholarships, Wild’s gift will be directed to the development of new programs and services tailored to better serve the evolving needs of today’s military families, particularly those of wounded and fallen Marines.
“Dr. Hans-Peter Wild had a hand in making my dreams come true and for that, I am forever grateful,” said Joseph Miranda, scholarship recipient attending Central Michigan University. “His act of selflessness will have an impact on so many lives, and I believe there is nothing more powerful than helping another person reach their goal of self-improvement through education. Dr. Wild sees the power in education and has helped students, like me; change their lives forever.”
A German native, Dr. Wild joined WILD Flavors and Specialty Ingredients, with the aim of introducing his family‘s business to the world. In 1974 he did just that with the development of Capri Sun, the beloved international drink which today, boasts billions in sales worldwide. He sold his now Erlange, Kentucky based company in 2014 after 40 years of innovation and global expansion. Today he’s an active international investor and philanthropist living in Switzerland
“An innovator, entrepreneur, and brilliant businessman, Dr. Wild is also a selfless humanitarian. Right away, he was energized by what we could accomplish together by pairing the transformational gift of education with Marine Corps values,” said Margaret B. Davis, Scholarship Foundation President and CEO. “His gift is more than a donation, it’s an investment in a future built on Honor, Courage and Commitment. Put simply, it’s a game changer in the lives of thousands of Marine families.”
About the Scholarship Foundation: Established in 1962, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is the Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships for military children. Since its inception, the Scholarship Foundation has provided over 35,000 scholarships valued at nearly $100 million to the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen. For more information on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, please visit www.mcsf.org.