West Virginia University is well on its way to meeting its $1 billion goal in A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University.
The WVU Foundation reports new gifts and pledges totaled $917.2 million through Sept. 30, 2015, or nearly 92 percent of the goal with more than two years left in the Campaign. That represents an increase of $19 million during the past quarter.
“Our focus now is when we will meet our billion dollar goal, and how far past that billion we will go,” said WVU Foundation President and CEO Cindi Roth. “The key word is momentum. Our alumni and friends, corporate and foundation partners have really risen to the occasion, and we’re extremely grateful for their generosity. Our team is going to keep working hard because we know the needs of the University are great.”
Through Sept. 30, 2015, the Foundation says 80,927 donors have contributed to the Campaign, including 33,820 alumni and over 6,000 corporations.
Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the State of Minds campaign.
The contributions include endowed scholarships to enable students to attend class and relieve their debt burden, financial support for new learning facilities; and gifts to enhance cutting-edge degree programs.
“I am enormously grateful for the gifts and pledges we have received from so many alumni and friends,” said WVU President Gordon Gee. “It demonstrates that people want to invest in a place that is dear to their hearts – and a place that changes lives. Our students, our state and our world depend on us.”
The Foundation also reported that the University’s Dream First initiative, an effort to raise $50 million for undergraduate scholarships and fellowships, has raised more than half of its goal, $25.2 million.
Since the beginning of the Campaign, 652 student scholarships have been created; 50 endowed faculty chairs and professorships have been started; and 192 new research funds have been added.
Recent gifts over the past quarter include: a $4.2 million donation to the agriculture and forestry programs at Potomac State College of WVU; a $1.6 million gift from the McGuane Foundation establishing undergraduate student scholarships and a $1 million donation from the Hazel L. Sutton Trust benefitting three WVU colleges/schools as well as the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute at WVU.
Visit www.astateofminds for information on how you can help support the Campaign.
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bn/10/16/2015
CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org
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