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UW-Eau Claire Foundation Campaign
Raises Nearly $54 Million
RELEASED: Jan. 29, 2008
EAU CLAIRE — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation's seven-year Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign ended Dec. 31, 2007, after raising nearly $54 million. The campaign — the university's first comprehensive fund-raising effort — exceeded its goal of $50 million.
"The level of generosity demonstrated throughout the campaign exceeded our wildest expectations," said Kimera Way, executive director of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation. "Through their generosity, our donors have touched the lives of scores of people and virtually every program at UW-Eau Claire. It is gratifying and humbling to see how much our donors value the educational and cultural opportunities the university provides to the public."
The Foundation kicked off its campaign in July 2000, with a goal to raise $35 million by June 30, 2005. After exceeding the $35 million goal by October 2004, the Foundation extended the Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign's closing date to Dec. 31, 2007, and increased its goal to $50 million.
"Extending the campaign was all the more important given the increased economic pressures the university and our students were facing and continue to face," Way said. "Renewable scholarships were one important aspect of the campaign."
Private support through the campaign will continue to make a difference for people and programs across the university, Way said. Some examples of the campaign's impact include:
- Many new, fully funded scholarships for students. Some are in specific academic areas and others encourage student/faculty research, address financial need and/or attract high-achieving students.
- Enhanced learning facilities. Examples include the College of Business cyberlab, refurbished simulation labs for nursing students, a new foreign language instructional resource center and new equipment for the athletic training facility.
- Support for the installation of artificial turf and a new scoreboard at the Carson Park football field.
- Creation of the Endowment for Excellence. The earnings from this endowment will support student scholarships, faculty/student research, the Honors Program, faculty development and the university's other areas of greatest need.
- Creation of the Blugold Promise Scholarship fund.
- Creation of faculty and staff development funds and endowed chairs, both of which will provide critical investments in the university's infrastructure.
"Exceeding our financial goals for the Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence campaign represents the opportunity for the university to continue its pledge of excellence for our students, and has demonstrated the important role UW-Eau Claire has played in the lives of the thousands of donors who made this campaign possible," said Bert Colianni, president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation board of directors. "The campaign has enabled the university to listen and communicate with our donors and now has given us a stronger financial footing to pursue the mission and strategic goals that will allow us to continue and improve UW-Eau Claire's position of leadership in the Midwest."
The Foundation will continue to move forward to meet more needs and to communicate with more donors.
"We have already embarked on a campaign to raise funds to replace and refurbish pianos for the department of music and theatre arts," Way said. "We have come a long way through the campaign, meeting many critical needs of the university, but we know we need to continue on our never-ending mission toward excellence. There are plenty of hopes and dreams just waiting for us to take them on."
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KH/JB
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