Carthage College in Kenosha has received a $15 million donation from longtime benefactor Jan Tarble. The donation is the largest contribution the college has ever received.
The money will pay for a career and welcome center for Carthage students, an endowment to provide additional staffing and career development professionals, an endowment to support experiential learning (including internships), and enhanced programs designed to promote career readiness.
“As one of the four principal founders of Snap-on, my father had a great appreciation for the power of tools. With the right tools, people work more productively and efficiently,” Tarble said in a statement. “Both he and my mother would echo my support of a career center that equips Carthage students with the tools they will need in the decades ahead.”
Carthage representatives estimated detailed plans for the development of the new center will be decided over the next six to eight months.
“The career preparation process starts long before that first job interview,” said Evelyn Buchanan, vice president for institutional advancement. “From exploring potential majors as a freshman to joining Carthage’s active alumni network, our students can expect to head into the workforce or graduate school confident and ready for success.”
Tarble and her family members have given more than $51 million to Carthage over the years. Most recently, she donated $10 million to help pay for the construction of a new science center, which opened in 2015.
Tarble lives in the Los Angeles area. Her family’s donations have helped pay for major construction projects and upgrades on the Carthage campus for more than 50 years, including the N.E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center, the Tarbel Arena and the Campbell Student Union.
Carthage also established a scholarship for California students who “embrace a spirit of adventure” in honor of the Tarbles.
Carthage president Gregory Woodward praised Tarble for her $15 million contribution.
“She gave this from an honest sentiment deep in her heart, knowing how powerful her support could be to generations of Carthage students,” he said. “Her amazing spirit and unbelievable generosity is truly a joy to share in. It is incredibly affirming to all of us at the college that a person of such prominence and means trusts our college with fulfilling some of her own dreams for a better world.”
