On the campus of Purdue University in the Spring of 2012, the Krannert Business Library underwent a major makeover. The Parrish Charitable Foundation, serving as a ‘major donor’ made a substantial financial offering of two million dollars to upgrade the facilities. With that donation, ‘The Roland G. Parrish Library of Management and Economics’ was established for Boilermakers in the business school. This became the first major facility on Purdue’s campus to be named for an African American.
Within the business school at Purdue, The Business Opportunity Program (or BOP) was established over 50 years ago. The program, recruits, enrolls, and educates minority undergraduates pursuing careers in business. Roland Parrish was one of the first students recruited for this program. Since graduating at the top of his class, Parrish has consistently contributed to BOP physically and fiscally. Parrish speaks to students annually, and The Parrish Charitable Foundation has awarded over $10,000 in scholarship funds toward BOP Students since 2019.
