Published in the Spring 2014 issue of Kettering Magazine

Matt Boddy ’95 makes an impact at his alma mater on a monthly basis -- literally.

Boddy, the global vice president of sales and marketing for Key Safety Systems, has made a donation to Kettering every month since February 2011. In fact, Boddy has made a donation to Kettering 41 times in the past 18 years. Boddy simply says of his generosity that, “it is the right thing to do.”

Boddy is compelled to give back because he feels his experience at Kettering University helped him immensely both personally and professionally. After a few years living abroad, working in vehicle seat engineering, and visiting 65 countries and territories, Boddy truly appreciates the opportunities that got him where he is today. Kettering University provided a solid foundation for his success.

Matt made his first donation to Kettering in December of 1996, just 12 months after graduating and he gave sporadically for a few years, until 2011 when his current streak of consecutive months began. Boddy believes that sometimes when you are young you do not realize how important giving back is and something has to trigger that for you. Boddy’s trigger was due to the investment a professor made in his success as a student.

During his undergraduate career, he worked closely with Professor Marty Wing, who inspired him to pursue a master’s degree economics after graduating from Kettering. Wing, who passed away in 1998, was Boddy’s thesis advisor and the two spent a great deal of time together. Wing’s guidance, support and dedication instilled a philanthropic spirit in Boddy that is still with him today.

“Every gift I give is in memory of Marty Wing,” Boddy said.

Matt now realizes that a Kettering education and the relationships that he developed in school were gifts, and he feels that giving back is just one way he can say thank you for those gifts.

After graduating and being away from campus for 18 years, Matt returned to campus for the first time in nearly 18 years last year. Standing on the front steps of the Campus Center, he said, “Being back and being able to see Kettering’s progress makes me proud.”