Campaign nears $185M mark

The University’s Transforming Bright Minds campaign has raised nearly $185 million as of Aug. 1. University officials said 26,710 individual donors had contributed 72,836 distinct gifts and pledges.

“Our $200 million campaign goal is well within sight,” said Robert S. Ukrop, B’69, campaign leader. “My fervent hope as an alumnus, parent, former trustee and campaign leader is that we will approach the campaign’s final phase with the same spirit of enthusiasm and determination that has propelled us beyond our original expectations.” Forty-five donors have made gifts of $1 million or more. Campaign leaders hope to have 50 donors at that level by the end of the campaign.

Campaign gifts have funded such capital projects as the $37.5 million renovated Gottwald Center for the Sciences, construction of the $13.5 million Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness, due to open in January 2007, the $9 million renovation and addition to Weinstein Hall, and the Forum, a $3 million open-air plaza. Other gifts have funded scholarships, professorships and endowed chairs for faculty.

Overall, gifts to the campaign have been divided between capital (39 percent), endowment (36 percent), current operations (20 percent) and undesignated (5 percent).

Fifty-one percent of the gifts have come from alumni, while corporations have made 13 percent of gifts. Other gifts have come from friends (18 percent), foundations (8 percent), parents (8 percent) and other sources (2 percent).