Robert Cervenka co-founded Phillips Plastics in 1964 and served as its chief executive officer and chairman, while his wife, Debbie, worked as executive vice president and member of the board of directors until the couple sold the company in 2010. After the sale, the Cervenkas toured the Department of Mechanical Engineering, seeking a way to give back. They settled on updating manufacturing, measuring and other lab equipment, which Debbie says goes to the heart of what mechanical engineering is, and what the department actually needed.
“We both feel very connected to what it takes to run a successful company, technologically,” she says. “Madison is one of the foremost schools of engineering in the country, and they’re doing unbelievably good work on basically a shoestring.” Read more »
Robert Cervenka (BSME '58) and Debra Cervenka
Why I Give
Richard Antoine and Dorothy O'Brien
Robert Cervenka and Debra Cervenka
Patrick Heaney and Kate Heaney
Gifts to the UW Foundation may be in the form of cash, appreciated securities, personal or real property. Pledges may be made over a period of years. Gifts to the UW Foundation are fully tax deductible.
For more information please contact:
Ann Leahy,
UW Foundation Director of Development - Engineering
1848 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53726
608/265-6114
ann.leahy@supportuw.org
To learn more about College of Engineering programs and involvement opportunities, please contact:
Brian S. Mattmiller,
Assistant Dean for Alumni and Corporate Relations
2630 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1691
608/890-3004
bsmattmi@engr.wisc.edu