Dear Charlotte Country Day School community:

We are pleased to announce that the Purdy family has made an extraordinary $3 million pledge to support Country Day’s key strategic priorities.

This exceptional gift from Verl and Sandra Purdy, Steve ’87 and Beth Purdy, J. Scott Purdy and Claire Purdy, and James Yuhas and Susan Purdy Yuhas ’85 helps bring to life the collective vision shaped by our strategic plan. 
 

Together, our community determined that a significant investment must be made to support math and science, dining, and learning centers on Cannon Campus in order to advance our students’ success, while also continuing to secure our financial future through increased support of the endowment and the Annual Fund.

The Purdy family is moving Country Day’s mission forward. We are delighted to recognize the family’s deep commitment to Country Day through the future Purdy Center for Science and Mathematics. Designed to drive innovative instruction and research, this new Center will provide the latest technology in lab, classroom, and collaborative learning spaces to meet the growing demand for high-level math and science courses and experiences. Fittingly, the Purdy family, which represents three generations of scientists, has enjoyed great entrepreneurial success through the mastery of the very skills that will be emphasized in this new academic Center: creative problem solving in math and science, integrative technology, collaboration, and research.

In a heartfelt moment, Tom Collins, Science Department chair, shared, “I am humbled and proud to be part of a school where the students have the desire, the school has the vision, and the community shows the support to make science happen. The Purdys are leading the way to make our cutting-edge work possible.”

In making this contribution, Susan Purdy Yuhas ’85 said, “Our entire family believes the fundamentals of a science, math, and technology-based education are vital. To invest in a field of study that prepares our students for careers that may not even exist yet is incredibly meaningful.”

The Purdy family’s commitment to science education illustrates the value alumni and parents of alumni place on a Country Day education and demonstrates the difference their generosity can make on our school’s future. Every generation of Country Day students has benefited from the vision and support of the families who came before them; thanks to the Purdys, this tradition will continue for today’s and tomorrow’s students.

Please join us in thanking the Purdy family for their generous investment and expression of confidence in Country Day.

This gift, along with the previously announced Dowd family gift toward the new Student Center, serves as an important cornerstone for an integrated plan to update Country Day’s Cannon Campus and position it for the future. If you would like to learn more about Country Day's strategic priorities and comprehensive funding plan, please call Katharine Atkins, director of Major Gifts at (704) 943-4545.

Sincerely,

About the Donors

Verl and Sandra Purdy
Verl Purdy's diverse career as a business leader has spanned more than five decades. A native West Virginian, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from West Virginia University and a master's in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Verl joined the BASF Corporation in 1969 and played a major role in developing the company in the United States to a multi-billion dollar enterprise. He left BASF in 1980 to become president and CEO of Rio Tinto Zinc Chemicals in the United States and Canada. In 1985, Verl founded AGDATA Inc., which has grown into the largest agricultural data analysis and marketing company in the world with facilities in several countries. Along with his sons, he founded Med Data in 1997. The companies were sold to SFW Capital Partners and Trans Union Corporation in 2009-2010. The Purdy and Yuhas families established Cadrillion Capital in 2010. The company's holdings provide a wide range of data services to over 400 hospital clients.

Verl's commitment to excellence extends beyond his companies to the community. He is a member of numerous social, business, and community associations, and his support of education is exceptional. Verl has been a member of the West Virginia University Foundation Board since 2004. He has served as Chairman of that Board and currently chairs the University's Campaign to raise $1 billion. This goal will be achieved by the conclusion of 2016. Verl was awarded an Honorary Doctors of Science degree from his alma mater in 2014.

Verl has four grandchildren who currently attend Country Day. Verl has been a member of Country Day's Board of Visitors since 2010.

Steve ’87 and Beth Purdy

After graduating from Country Day in 1987, Steve Purdy received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina in 1991, a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1994, and a master’s of law in international business transactions from the University of London in 1995.

Steve began his professional career with the family business, AGDATA, Inc., in 1995, originally serving as general counsel. In 1997, Steve cofounded and became CEO of the MedData division of AGDATA. For more than a decade, Steve guided MedData from its start-up phase through several growth cycles and acquisitions. In 2009, Steve led the successful sale of MedData to TransUnion, LLC, one of the three major credit bureaus in the United States. After the sale, Steve became the head of Business Development, Mergers and Acquisitions for the Healthcare business unit of TransUnion until 2012 when he joined DeliverCareRx, Inc. He served as CEO of DeliverCareRx from inception through its start-up and early growth phases. Most recently, in June 2015, Steve joined Cadrillion Capital as a principal and partner.

Both Steve and Beth are very active at the HopeWay Foundation, where Steve serves as a member of their board of directors. Steve has also served on the board of the Mental Health Association of the Central Carolinas, Inc. He became a member of Country Day’s Board of Trustees in 2014 and serves on the Finance, Investment, and Property & Grounds Committees.

Steve and Beth are proud parents of Maxwell ’17 and Gregory ’17.

J. Scott and Claire Purdy

Dr. J. Scott Purdy is a founding principal in Cadrillion Capital and has a special interest in Health Care IT and Services. Prior to Cadrillion, Scott spent 11 years in practice as a primary care clinician. He started a primary care practice in Lexington, North Carolina, and grew it to the largest practice in the area. He sold his interest to a partner in 2004 to pursue investing full time.

In 1997, Scott started MedData with his brother Steve, initially using Scott’s medical practice for beta-testing. MedData grew from a regional, web-based referral tool to the nation’s largest eligibility and real-time services company processing over 100 million transactions. MedData was acquired by TransUnion in December 2009.

Scott received a bachelor’s of science from Davidson College and a doctor of medicine from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Virginia /Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

James Yuhas and Susan Purdy Yuhas ’85

After graduating from Country Day in 1985, Susan Purdy Yuhas received her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University. Following graduation, she devoted herself to the marketing industry, gathering over a decade of experience at positions within GE, Allen Tate, and AGDATA.

Jim Yuhas is a co-founder, Partner and Principal of Cadrillion Capital. Prior to Cadrillion he spent over 11 years at Banc of America Securities in the global leveraged finance division. Focusing on LBO’s, he has multinational experience in leveraged loans, high yield, and hedge fund structures. Previous experience included boutique investment banking with Huntington Capital, asset based lending with Barclays, and audit and consulting as a CPA with KPMG. He received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, with a dual major in accounting and finance, and a master of Business Administration from the Fisher College of Business, at The Ohio State University.

James and Susan are proud parents of Owen ’22 and Logan ’23.