2008 Woodie Awards
State House scandal brings questions for URI alum Tom Ryan
Ryan will continue to chair capital campaign
Bridgette Blight
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: News
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11/08/07 - The possibility that Thomas M. Ryan, chair of the university's Making a Difference campaign, could be involved in a state corruption scandal has had no effect on the school's fundraising campaign, according to university officials.
Ryan, CEO of CVS, has donated millions of dollars to the University of Rhode Island, most recently $2.5 million for the Making a Difference campaign, whose goal is to raise $100 million for URI's endowment. Ryan also helped raise the money to build the Ryan Center, which is named after him.
However, Ryan has been in the news recently for his company's involvement in Operation Dollar Bill, an FBI probe into corruption in the state Legislature. Former House Majority Leader Gerald Martineau plead guilty Friday for selling his office to CVS and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for $891,500 in paper and plastic bag contracts, according to The Providence Journal. Blue Cross received only two million of the 10 million bags that it paid for.
Robert Weygand, vice president of administration, said the possibility of legal action against Ryan had no impact on scheduling events at the Ryan Center. Many concert promoters are from out of state and they are concerned with the clientele that they will be attracting, not whose name is on the building, Weygand said.
Robert Beagle, vice president of University Advancement, added that URI alumni and donors do not seem to have a problem with what's been in the news lately.
As chair of the Making a Difference Campaign, Ryan is in charge of coaxing alumni to donate to URI, expanding the school's network of donors, and helping it reach its fundraising goal.
Beagle said he is aware of the allegation that Ryan might be involved in Operation Dollar Bill. This probe has been going on for a few years, and started when the university was in the first stages of planning the Make a Difference Campaign, Beagle said.
Beagle said potential donors were interviewed about their willingness to donate to URI and whom they thought should chair the campaign. An outside consulting firm performed a feasibility study, which resulted in all positive reactions to Ryan.
Ryan, CEO of CVS, has donated millions of dollars to the University of Rhode Island, most recently $2.5 million for the Making a Difference campaign, whose goal is to raise $100 million for URI's endowment. Ryan also helped raise the money to build the Ryan Center, which is named after him.
However, Ryan has been in the news recently for his company's involvement in Operation Dollar Bill, an FBI probe into corruption in the state Legislature. Former House Majority Leader Gerald Martineau plead guilty Friday for selling his office to CVS and Blue Cross/Blue Shield for $891,500 in paper and plastic bag contracts, according to The Providence Journal. Blue Cross received only two million of the 10 million bags that it paid for.
Robert Weygand, vice president of administration, said the possibility of legal action against Ryan had no impact on scheduling events at the Ryan Center. Many concert promoters are from out of state and they are concerned with the clientele that they will be attracting, not whose name is on the building, Weygand said.
Robert Beagle, vice president of University Advancement, added that URI alumni and donors do not seem to have a problem with what's been in the news lately.
As chair of the Making a Difference Campaign, Ryan is in charge of coaxing alumni to donate to URI, expanding the school's network of donors, and helping it reach its fundraising goal.
Beagle said he is aware of the allegation that Ryan might be involved in Operation Dollar Bill. This probe has been going on for a few years, and started when the university was in the first stages of planning the Make a Difference Campaign, Beagle said.
Beagle said potential donors were interviewed about their willingness to donate to URI and whom they thought should chair the campaign. An outside consulting firm performed a feasibility study, which resulted in all positive reactions to Ryan.