Alumni and friends of West Virginia University are stepping up to help make attending the University more affordable for students. WVU Foundation officials say 661 endowed scholarships have been established by donors as part of “A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University.”

Through Dec. 31, 2015, new gifts and pledges to the Campaign totaled $938 million, or nearly 94 percent of the $1 billion goal with two years remaining. The number of donors to the Campaign totaled 81,114, making 306,661 gifts. This includes donations from 34,256 alumni and more than 6,100 corporations.

“We extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to alumni and friends who have partnered with us in this Campaign to enhance the experience for not only our students, but our faculty, researchers and patients as well,” WVU Foundation President and CEO Cindi Roth said. “We are very enthusiastic about what lies ahead in 2016, and invite those who have not yet given to the Campaign to do so as we near our historic $1 billion goal.”

Along with 661 endowed student scholarships, donors to the Campaign have created 26 endowed faculty chairs, 26 endowed professorships, and 202 new funds to assist research efforts at WVU.

The University’s “Dream First” initiative, an increased effort started last year to raise $50 million for undergraduate scholarships and fellowships as part of the “State of Minds” Campaign, has raised $26.9 million, or about 54 percent of its goal.

“The response to this campaign is just one of the many indicators of the momentum that is building at West Virginia University. From classrooms to research labs to libraries to playing fields, this University is improving and advancing at an impressive speed,” WVU President Gordon Gee said. “I am especially pleased with the success of our ‘Dream First’ initiative. It continues to serve as a catalyst for those who desire to support the University. It is with sincere gratitude that we thank our donors and pledge to continue moving this institution forward in the most meaningful ways.”

Recent donations to the Campaign include a generous gift from professor emeritus Joginder Nath establishing an annual awards program for Honors College students and to continue the Nath Lecture Series; a gift from Huntington Bank to create a seed funding program within WVU’s LaunchLab and a major grant to the School of Dentistry from the American Association of Endodontics Foundation and DENTSPLY Tulsa Dental Specialties.

To learn more about how you can support the Campaign, visit www.astateofminds.com

-WVU-

bn/1/26/2016

CONTACT: Bill Nevin, WVU Foundation
304-284-4056; wnevin@wvuf.org

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