By ALEX FONDRK
Billionaire, philanthropist, the co-founder of ABC Supply, and one of the largest republican donors in the state of Wisconsin, Diane Hendricks, is also someone who has held deep ties to Beloit College. According to Forbes, she is the richest American self-made woman. She grew up on a dairy farm, became a mother at 17, and worked as a Playboy Bunny before transitioning to a career in real estate. It was through this that Hendricks met her husband and business partner, Ken Hendricks. They co-founded ABC Supply, which today is the largest distributor of roofing supplies in North America, which she has run by herself since his death in 2007. Hendricks has had massive impacts on both Beloit College and the city of Beloit.
Hendricks’ company, ABC Supply, which is headquartered in Beloit has created new jobs for the city of Beloit, including Beloit students. Her company has fellowships and internships that Beloit students can work at, and there are even ways to start careers with her company for new graduates.
However, ABC Supply’s largest impact has not been individual jobs, but rather the industry and companies it has brought into Beloit. Today, many companies have offices and headquarters in the city, rebuilding what was previously a failing economy. Her work to stimulate the economy has not been felt evenly and the poverty rate in Beloit remains higher than the average for Wisconsin. Many see the city as now two separate ones, a nicer, more affluent downtown area compared to a city that still faces many of the problems – poverty, violence, unemployment – that have characterized Beloit in the eyes of the rest of Wisconsin.
Hendricks has made monetary donations to the college, and President Eric Boynton described her impact as “outsized.” The Hendricks Center, which houses the Performing and Applied Arts Department downtown, was a gift to the school from her. She also donated significant amounts of money towards the construction of the Powerhouse. The creation of these spaces has not only given students new spaces to learn and hang out, but has also changed how the college functions in relation to downtown Beloit.
“We were separate from the city,” Colette Bina ‘97 describes, “It was very much so the college kids and the townies.” Aside from the Hendricks Center, Hendricks has bought up much of the main drag and has helped to convert these into the shops and restaurants seen downtown today. Beloit College’s website now describes the city of Beloit as “home to an engaged community that… gives students in-person, and highly relevant experiences living and working here.”
From 2011-2020, Hendricks served on the Board of Trustees for the college, in part to continue her husband’s legacy of involvement with the college. According to Boynton, the board has a “noses in, hands out” approach, wherein they have some influence, but are not deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the college. Some of their roles include hiring the president and ensuring that the school will remain in operation.
In September of 2020, Hendricks, along with four other members, left the board of trustees. At the time, the school did not report a reason for the resignations, and she did not publicly disclose any specific reason. Boynton commented in an interview that she had served the college for a long time at that point and was ready to move on to other opportunities. However, many on campus believe that she left for different reasons.
There are a few stories that have circulated about her reason for leaving. The most common account is that she left after a Black Lives Matter flag was hung on the Powerhouse and the college denied her request to take it down. Another account is that she left in response to the new Student Statement of Culture, which was issued before the beginning of the semester, and publicly committed Beloit to being an anti-racist organization. Most accounts describe her taking issue in some way with Beloit’s involvement with the Black Lives Matter movement. Hendricks reportedly remains a friend to the college today.
Whatever her reason for leaving, it is impossible to deny the large impacts she has had on Beloit College and the city of Beloit. Though many of these have been positive, it is important to note that some of her other contributions to Wisconsin may have led to great harm for many in the state, including her funding of political candidates, such as Governor Scott Walker. Some believe that Walker’s passage of Act 10 made working conditions worse and broke up unions. Some are also critical of Walker, accusing him of gerrymandering the state. While we can feel gratitude for the donations she has given to the city and the school, we must remember that her donations have not been used solely in alignment with the values of Beloit College.
Featured image: Forbes
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