Newmont Mining Corporation

Butte, Montana

For years, Newmont has funded research, provided scholarships and offered other support to Montana Tech, one of the United States' most highly regarded mineral engineering schools. However, sponsoring the construction of a new scoreboard for its sports stadium may have had the most far-reaching impact to date.

It all began when a supporter partially donated a scoreboard previously used at Oregon State to the small mining college in hopes it could boost visibility for its athletics program. When Newmont got wind that fundraising efforts to advance the project fell short, we stepped up with a $250,000 donation. That seed money served as a catalyst for other contributions, which poured in to turn this gesture of goodwill into a reality.

"This new scoreboard united the community, which pulled together as a team to make this happen," said Marc LeVier, senior director of Metallurgical Research and Development for Newmont and scoreboard sponsorship organizer. "Local steel and electrical contractors who built the scoreboard even donated half of their fees – and the excavator and siding contractors donated all of their costs – as they felt it would provide home field advantage and build excitement for the school."

When Montana Tech was ready to unveil its new attraction at the start of this football season, it invited none other than Newmont's Wade Bristol – general manager for Nevada's underground operations, most valuable player for Montana Tech's 1979 Frontier Conference championship team (football), and All-American offensive lineman – to be part of the coin toss.

"It was nice to be invited back to my old stomping grounds representing Newmont," Bristol said. "It was great to see Newmont's support of this college."

"It was just perfect to have one of Newmont's own return as the hometown hero to unveil the state-of-the-art scoreboard," LeVier said. "Nearly everyone there knew Wade and his family."

Our company's investment is already paying high dividends.

"Newmont secured naming rights of the scoreboard for 10 years and positioned itself as an employer of choice for mining students," LeVier said. "Football games are sold out, much to the chagrin of opponents. Local merchants can advertise on the scoreboard. And it has both united and entertained the local college community."

November 30, 2010