Robert and Rebecca Poire focus their philanthropy on the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, believing their contributions can significantly impact both the college and global initiatives. Robert noted the importance of the college’s work, stating, "Whether it’s cancer research or dogs protecting airports and schools, it’s going beyond Auburn — our gifts are helping the college to do good across the globe."
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Rebecca hails from Alabama, while Robert, originally from the Midwest, became part of the Auburn community through marriage. Although he had applied to Auburn during high school, financial constraints diverted his path. Years later, he met Rebecca, leading him to finally become part of the Auburn legacy.
Currently residing in Fairhope, Alabama, Rebecca has nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, while Robert works for a global technology company. They frequently travel to Auburn to support their initiatives and witness the direct effects of their donations firsthand.
Their charitable contributions are intentionally aligned with their personal experiences. Following Rebecca's journey as a breast cancer survivor, the couple supports the college's Gene Machine initiative and makes annual contributions to the Auburn University Raptor Center, especially on Tiger Giving Day. Their philanthropy also extends to the College of Agriculture and the Auburn Tigers’ men’s golf team. Recognizing the financial barriers they faced in their educational pursuits, they established a scholarship to assist aspiring veterinarians. Rebecca emphasized the motivation behind their support, saying, "Times were tough for us growing up, so now that I’m in a position to help others, I want to extend a helping hand."
As passionate animal lovers, the Poires recently sponsored a litter of puppies through the college’s Canine Performance Sciences program, which focuses on breeding, training, and deploying service dogs. Their support allowed them to name and interact with the five puppies, fostering a deeper appreciation for the training these dogs undergo.
Rebecca described the puppies as "cute and wiggly" and noted their high energy and intelligence, asserting they are destined to become performance dogs, not pets. The couple chose family names for three of the puppies: Annie Bell and Hardee, representing Rebecca’s family, and Margie, honoring Robert’s mother. The final two received names inspired by Auburn golf legends, Jackson Koivun and Jason Dufner.
Robert recounted the experience of naming the puppies, noting, "We had to scramble a little because we didn’t know the number of boy and girl dogs we would be naming. But it felt like the perfect way to pay tribute to our families and to Auburn golf at the same time."