On Dec. 3, 2014, Fred Eshelman, CEO and founder of Wilmington-based PPD Inc. and a member of the Class of 1972, announced a $100 million commitment to the North Carolina School of Pharmacy.

The new gift was used to found a center dedicated to accelerating collaborative innovations. To date, Eshelman’s total support of the School amounted to approximately $133 million. In 2008, the School was renamed the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in honor of Mr. Eshelman.