Bob White, a longtime supporter of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation are investing $3 million to expand opportunities for students in the competitive Bloch Launchpad program.

The Bloch School has long invested in the success of business and accounting students through the Launchpad program with selected students receiving a renewable $2,500 scholarship, with a potential value of $10,000 over four years, along with the opportunity to pursue specialized pathways such as More in 4, a dual bachelor’s and master’s program, and other tracks like Banking Leaders of Tomorrow, Real Estate Leaders of Tomorrow and Accounting Leaders of Tomorrow, a new track that will begin next fall.

“Bloch Launchpad is about more than preparing students for their first job, it’s about preparing them to lead,” said Whitney Vaughn, director of Bloch Launchpad. “Our scholars are given the opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world experiences, professional relationships and meaningful leadership opportunities. My goal is to help every Launchpad Scholar discover their potential, build the confidence to pursue it and develop the skills and network they need to make a lasting impact.”

Current Launchpad Scholar Caleb Elliott’s experience is one example of how the program’s network and opportunities can shape a student’s experience on and off campus.

When he arrived at UMKC, he wasn’t sure what his college experience would look like. Coming to UMKC was a last-minute decision he decided to take that ultimately changed the trajectory of his college career.

Through Launchpad, Elliott found mentors, built meaningful connections and discovered opportunities that helped him grow both personally and professionally. He was also part of the first cohort of Banking Leaders of Tomorrow, which connected him with mentorship, scholarship support and a pathway into the banking industry.

“UMKC is one of those schools where, if you come here with a drive to succeed and you’re willing to put in the hard work, there are so many opportunities available to you,” Elliott said. “Launchpad and Banking Leaders of Tomorrow showed me that people at UMKC care about your success and want to help you. I’ve learned that connections really matter, and the relationships I’ve built here have made a huge difference in my college experience and my career. I took a chance on UMKC, and it definitely paid off.”

Today, Elliott gives back to Launchpad by mentoring students in subsequent cohorts and encouraging others to take advantage of the opportunities UMKC offers.

In 2019, Bloch Launchpad was established with support from the Bloch Family Foundation to empower the next generation of business leaders with portfolio-building experiences that begin in a student’s first semester at the Bloch School.

“Marion and Henry Bloch believed in the importance of creating opportunities that allow people to reach their full potential,” said David Miles, president of the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation. “This investment in Bloch Launchpad will help more students develop the skills, confidence and connections necessary for their future professional achievements and career success.”

The $3 million investment builds on a decades-long relationship between White and the Bloch School.

The connection began in the 1980s after the Direct Marketing Association, now part of the Association of National Advertisers, provided a grant for the purpose of funding a marketing emphasis within the school’s Bachelor of Business Administration degree. For seven years following the grant, White served as chairman of the program’s advisory board. He also supported Bloch students through a former scholarship program his company offered.

“The Launchpad program was suggested to me as a specific avenue for support and I liked the criteria for the program, offering scholarships with requirements for internships and other work experiences as part of the program,” White said. “Business is one of the best choices for a degree likely to have a rewarding financial future.”

In retirement, White focuses his philanthropy on educational programs that prepare students for rewarding careers likely to yield financial and job security. He made his first gift to Bloch Launchpad in 2022 and has continued to support the program each year.

White has also shared his expertise directly with students through presentations on personal financial literacy.

In recognition of his continued support, the Bloch School named its Launchpad student lounge the M&M Launchpad Lounge in his honor. The space gives students a place to rest, study and recharge on campus, with available drinks, snacks and games.

"This extraordinary gift is an investment in the potential and promise of our students,” said Leigh Salzsieder, interim dean of the Bloch School. “By supporting Bloch Launchpad, Bob and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation are helping students dream bigger from their very first semester, giving them the experiences, resources, and confidence to imagine what is possible and chart their own path forward."

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