By Steve Gilliam, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 4-3-09
GREENSBORO, NC – It was good news and gratitude all around as University of North Carolina at Greensboro officials announced Thursday that the Students First Campaign has raised $110.6 million.
While the campaign will continue through June 30, UNCG celebrated the campaign’s success at an event that also included presentation of the university’s highest awards for service.
Dr. Patricia W. Stewart, UNCG’s vice chancellor for university advancement, expressed gratitude to the campaign’s steering committee, co-chaired by Linda Arnold Carlisle and Norman and Sylvia Samet, to UNCG’s administration, and to more than 250 donors, volunteers and supporters who gathered for the event. She noted that the campaign lived up to it theme, “The Impact of One. The Power of Many.”
“I can look out into this crowd and see so many individuals who have made an impact on the lives of our students, faculty and community,” Stewart said. “Our individual efforts have empowered students to excel, assisted faculty in performing groundbreaking research and literally reshaped the physical landscape of our campus.”
Chancellor Linda P. Brady also thanked the campaign’s donors, steering committee and volunteers. She also praised Chancellor Emerita Patricia A. Sullivan, who worked with the Students First Campaign from its inception, and vice chancellor Stewart, who coordinated the overall effort.
“I want to express my appreciation for your generosity and vision,” Brady said. “I am excited to be a part of a university that has such a strong base of support – one that is growing wider and stronger all of the time. Thank you for your donations, your leadership, your support efforts, your belief in Students First and every task – large and small – that carried UNCG not only to, but beyond our $100 million goal.”
Stewart reported that the campaign has created 14 new professorships, 193 new undergraduate scholarships, 41 new graduate scholarships, and 152 program endowments and student awards programs. Gifts came from 13,815 alumni, 7,431 friends, 1,001 corporations and foundations and 1,198 faculty and staff.
Dedicated leadership, volunteers and supporters helped the campaign effort. Stewart recalled when it was launched on July 1, 2004, with a $78 million goal. The new mark was increased to $100 million in September 2006, and was reached a year ahead of schedule.
“The Students First Campaign could never have realized such success without the countless hours and dedication of an important group of people who have been instrumental in steering the campaign to its many achievements,” Stewart said. “These people were both behind the scenes and side by side with our donors. They helped us plan and they rolled up their sleeves to get the job done. They understood our proud history and had the vision to look to what UNCG needs for the future.”
The campaign received a surprise gift from an anonymous donor in March – $6 million which is the largest donation ever made to UNCG. Of the gift, $5 million will be used for scholarships. The additional $1 million will allow UNCG to seek matching funds to create two new distinguished professorship endowments of $1 million each.
“What was also fantastic about this gift was that we have been able to more than double the return on this gift through the state’s Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust and the C.D. Spangler Foundation Challenge Grant Initiative,” Stewart said. “So, all told, we’re able to direct tremendous funds toward student financial assistance and to create distinguished professorships. It’s very exciting and inspiring.”
Totals for the campaign’s four initiatives are:
• Student support – Gifts of $59.8 million received toward a goal of $66.3 million. The goal includes $61.31 million for undergraduate and graduate scholarships, $3.8 million for international education, and $1.15 million for the Communication Across the Curriculum program.
• Attracting and retaining excellent faculty – $14.1 million raised, exceeding a goal of $10.1 million. The effort includes $4.6 million for professorships, $2.84 million for faculty development, $1.7 million for Jackson Library, and $1 million for guest artists and lectures.
• Building an exceptional learning environment – $29.1 million raised, passing the $16.1 million goal. Goal includes $7.4 million for academic program support, $2.5 million for the Aycock Auditorium renovation, $3.2 million for the Sullivan Science Building equipment fund, and $1 million each for the Chancellor’s New Venture Fund, Weatherspoon Art Museum and the Alumni House renovation.
• Research and service support – $4.1 million raised toward a $7.5 million goal. The goal includes $2 million for the Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships; and $1 million each for the Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, the Center for Business and Economic Research, the Center for Information Technology Management and service-learning internships. It also includes $500,000 each for the Center for Biotechnology, Genomics and Health Research; the Center for New North Carolinians; and service-earning initiatives in the School of Nursing.
The Students First Campaign’s success has been recognized with two prestigious WealthEngine Awards for Fundraising Excellence from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). In 2007, CASE recognized UNCG with the most improved fundraising program award and last year with an overall performance award received by only 49 institutions nationally. For this top honor, UNCG was ranked among only seven other public research/doctoral institutions, including Ohio State University, University of California at Berkeley, Purdue University and the University of Virginia.
