University fundraising campaign exceeds goal

UM President George Dennison announced recently that the University has surpassed the $100 million goal set for its comprehensive fundraising campaign “Invest in Discovery: Connecting People, Programs and Place.”

However, he said several targeted priorities still need funding before the campaign concludes on Dec. 31.

Dennison made his remarks during his 17th State of the University address, which was followed by a news conference with “Invest in Discovery” campaign chair Deborah Doyle McWhinney.

“I was surprised by just how generous people can be,” McWhinney said. “It gives you goose bumps when you realize how passionate people are about wanting to do something that leaves a legacy of excellence … and that just touches me.”

The campaign, launched in 2002, is the most ambitious in the University’s history. When the public portion of “Invest in Discovery” started two years ago, $72 million had been raised. Dennison said UM met the $100 million benchmark in July, and that amount continues to grow.

Donations have come from more than 25,000 people to date – almost a third of whom are first-time donors. More than half the benefactors are UM alumni.

McWhinney said she had spoken with hundreds of donors during her tenure as campaign chair. “They talk about the quality of education and keeping (UM) as strong for the next generation as it was for those of us who went to school here.

“And frankly,” she said, “almost 50 percent of our donations are from people who didn’t attend UM but believe in the quality of the programs that are offered here.”

Dennison said the historic success of the campaign can be attributed to hard work from UM Foundation trustees and staff, as well as from deans, faculty members and volunteers.
“However, we have not yet achieved all the financial goals we set in advance of the campaign,” Dennison said.

The campaign priorities are scholarship endowments, endowments for faculty chairs and programs, program support, and funds for construction and renovation of facilities, including a planned Native American center, business education center and teacher education center.

“My obligation is now to push very hard to achieve everything (on the University’s list of priorities),” Dennison said. “I urge those who have not done so to join us in this last major push for complete success. We have four months and must make the most of them.”