Wells Fargo awards $450K to EIC

Wells Fargo has a long history of strong environmental commitment. With more LEED-certified square footage than any other financial institutions in the world and more than $52 billion deployed to environmental finance and clean tech activities since 2012, Wells Fargo has a clear commitment to improving the planet. The Foster School of Business’ Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce Wells Fargo’s $450,000 sponsorship of the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge to be given over a three-year period.

In a surprise ceremony at the 2016 EIC, the Wells Fargo team presented a check to the EIC team. Mary Knell, Wells Fargo’s CEO of Commercial Banking in Washington and Western Canada, kicked off the reception ceremony.

“We created a $100 million environmental philanthropy goal by 2020, to support projects across the U.S. that are targeting environmental projects related to conservation,” Knell said. “We also support think tanks, research and development, and business plan competitions — like this one — helping clean technology ideas get to the marketplace.”

Wells Fargo sees the University of Washington as a leader and catalyst of new technology solutions, Knell added, and is proud to partner with a place inspiring a new generation of thought leaders.

The Foster School of Business and the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship are so honored to be connected to such an incredible organization and look forward to working with the Wells Fargo team to support and encourage student environmental innovation.