TKE Celebrates Donald R. Tapia Building Rededication

Grand Prytanis Rod Talbot presents Frater Donald R. Tapia with the Grand Prytanis Award.

INDIANAPOLIS – Fraters and friends of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity gathered last Saturday, April 16, to celebrate Frater Donald R. Tapia’s $1 million commitment to the TKE Educational Foundation.

“This is an historic occasion,” said Frater Mark Fite, Past Grand Prytanis and past TEF Board of Directors Chairman, at Saturday's event. “We finally have the lead person who has supported us financially to make the vision of [the TKE Temple] come true.”

Tapia’s commitment prompted the renaming the Fraternity’s headquarters building to be officially recognized as the Donald R. Tapia TKE International Headquarters.

Tapia, an initiate of the Sigma-Theta chapter at Saint Leo University, has been a generous philanthropist since finding success as a prominent businessman with Essco Wholesale Electric. In 2011, he donated $4 million to the development of Saint Leo University’s state-of-art School of Business. He has also supported organizations such as the Arizona Animal Welfare League, the Foundation for Blind Children and the Childhood Language Center.

“Philanthropy is something you need to look at in your own life and ask: ‘What can I do to give back to my church, government, university and fraternity?’’’ said Tapia.

In addition to Tapia’s most recent commitment to the TKE Educational Foundation, he also contributed $250,000 in 2014 toward the Fraternity’s annual Regional Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.

“Never for get where you came from, but never forget to put it in your rear view mirror,” said Tapia. “You need to always look forward so you can build your life. I didn't receive my degree until I was 65 years old. I’m living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and the TKE Educational Foundation thank Frater Tapia for supporting the Fraternity’s future and building a path for success.

The story of Donald R. Tapia was featured in the spring ’16 edition of THE TEKE Magazine. Read the full story.