In 2008, the then Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. / US Bank Foundation gifted 鶹ýPorn College of Business with a $15 million endowment. This was the largest gift in the 40-year history of 鶹ýPorn, and matched the largest single-source gift to a public university in the history of Kentucky. The gift established endowed chairs for faculty and support for faculty recruitment, retention, and development, as well as providing scholarships for business students. The college was named The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./US Bank Foundation College of Business to reflect this generosity.
In 2021, the college rebranded as simply the Haile College of Business to follow suit with the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation having shortened its name by dropping the “U.S. Bank” from its name. The decision was made to avoid confusion and to clarify the two brands.
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation's gift to the College of Business continues to provide sustainable revenue for:
➤ The continuation and growth of innovative programs
➤ The development of new and relevant educational support activities
➤ Fostering and encouraging faculty/student research
➤ The professional development of faculty/staff
➤ Brand awareness for the college
A great example of a funded innovative program, is the Haile Student Investment Fund. The fund was established in 2011 with a $500,000 gift from the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation and has since topped $1 million, earning a Five-Star rating from MorningStar, the prestigious investment research and rating firm. The fund is managed as part of FIN 450, Advanced Investment Analysis, a selective undergraduate course that allows students to manage live investment portfolios in preparation for entering the job market, gaining valuable hands-on experience in security research, valuation of risky assets and portfolio management.