![Perkiomen School alumnus Dan Breidegam stands in front of portraits of his father and grandfather at East Penn Manufacturing]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1663960084/perkiomen/jnt7oalmx2cnivexmvuj/DBreidegamCropped.jpg","width":2200}])
Head of Perkiomen School Mark A. Devey announced Saturday that alumnus Daniel Breidegam has made a significant gift to the Our Moment to Lead Capital Campaign. Breidegam’s leadership gift combined with other noteworthy contributions will enable Perkiomen School to begin construction on their new student center in 2023.
When asked why he wanted to support this project at this time, Breidegam’s answer was simple: “Perkiomen needed it.”
Breidegam, a member of Perkiomen School’s Class of 1971, is the Chairman of East Penn Manufacturing, one of the world’s leading battery manufacturers, with locations in Berks County and Corydon, Iowa. The company was founded by his father and grandfather - DeLight Breidegam, Jr. and Sr. - in 1946 and over the last seven decades has grown to more than 10,500 employees who sustain a culture of values that include family, respect, integrity, and quality.
“Leadership gifts like Dan’s are transformational, especially for a school that values community like Perkiomen,” says Devey. “Recognizing that he could play an important role in helping to build the student center – a hub of community within his alma mater – mirrors the way he and his family built community within East Penn. It is truly just the way the Breidegam family operates.”
The vision for the Student Center is to establish a symbolic heart of the Perkiomen community, anchoring it as the physical heart of the campus. Integrating several student resources in a beautiful space, the new Student Center will promote engagement through a central, attractive, comfortable space, combining the practical and the aspirational. In recognition of Breidegam’s investment, he will be given the honor of naming the new building.
Students will have a natural destination with one-stop convenience for many daily tasks such as academic and support offices, performance space, areas for both work and play, along with a café and bookstore. The new Student Center will also introduce fresh dynamics, encouraging new intersections of ideas and people and exposing the entire community to exciting, often unexpected opportunities.
“Both of my parents had wisdom as to what was important in life,” shares Breidegam. “They enjoyed very much to provide opportunities to people and see their accomplishments. They tried to share that belief and have provided the ability to continue that work. I am proud to view this project as an example of their work.”
The Our Moment to Lead Campaign, the largest comprehensive campaign in the school’s history with a goal of $30 million, is inspiring the Perkiomen community to make unprecedented investments to serve students and families, to attract and retain outstanding faculty, and to lead the next generation of education innovation.
Both of my parents had wisdom as to what was important in life. They enjoyed very much to provide opportunities to people and see their accomplishments. They tried to share that belief and have provided the ability to continue that work. I am proud to view this project as an example of their work. -- Dan Breidegam '71