Donors have contributed $629 million to A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University through March 31, the WVU Foundation announced today (April 25).
Since Jan. 1, alumni and friends of the University have given $24 million, taking the campaign from $605 million to $629 million. With just under three years remaining in the campaign, 84 percent of the $750 million campaign goal has been achieved.
The contributions include endowed scholarships to enable students to attend class; financial support for new learning facilities; and gifts to enhance cutting-edge degree programs.
“We continue to receive an excellent response from those we talk to about the University and donating to the campaign,” said Wayne King, WVU Foundation president and CEO. “We have been holding a number of campaign-related events across the country, and our goal is to continue the momentum. We feel very good at this point, but understand we certainly have more work to do.”
“A State of Minds” is the largest private fundraising campaign in WVU’s history, and runs through December 2015. The $750 million goal is three times larger than the previous “Building Greatness” campaign from 1998-2003.
“We have phenomenal alumni and friends of this University who are helping to open doors for students through scholarships, helping to support our faculty with fellowships, and helping to improve our academic programs through facility upgrades and technology,” said WVU President Jim Clements. “The support we are getting comes at such an important time, and will enable us to extend our momentum. Thank you to everyone who is helping us to close in on a very ambitious goal.”
Fundraising is focusing on six University-wide campaign priority areas that align with the University’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future:
• Enhance the undergraduate student experience and global education
• Advance the research initiative of the University
• Enable WVU to improve West Virginia’s health, economy and quality of life
• Foster faculty excellence
• Enhance WVU through professional and graduate education
• Support healthcare through research, education and patient care
Major gifts over the past three months include a $4 million donation from BrickStreet Foundation to the College of Business and Economics and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics a very valuable in-kind donation of Star Trek music from composer and alumnus Jay Chattaway; and numerous endowed scholarships and fellowships.
Chairman of Putnam Investments and 1974 alumnus Robert Reynolds and Cadrillion Capital President Verl Purdy, a 1964 WVU graduate, are the national campaign co-chairmen while James “Buck” Harless is the national campaign honorary chairman.
A key component of this comprehensive campaign for WVU is the utilization of hundreds of volunteers. Along with a 23-member national volunteer committee, the campaign also has West Virginia and regional volunteer chairs. Each college and school has its own campaign committee with its chair also serving on the national committee.
Visit www.astateofminds.com for information on how you can help support the campaign.
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bn/4/25/13
CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.