West Virginia University is well on its way to surpassing its $750 million goal in A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University.
The WVU Foundation announced today (Jan. 22) that contributions to the campaign totaled $716 million through Dec. 31, 2013, or 95 percent of the $750 million goal. The campaign, which began in July 2007 and was publically launched in June 2012, runs through December 2015.
“Going over $700 million in donations with two years remaining in the campaign demonstrates the tremendous loyalty and passion our donors have for WVU,” said WVU Foundation President and CEO Cindi Roth. “Our alumni and friends, corporate and foundation partners are stepping up, and we’re extremely grateful for their generosity.
“It’s important that we continue this momentum because the University’s needs, in order to achieve its long term strategic plan, far exceed our $750 million goal.”
Donations to the campaign include endowed scholarships and fellowships for students, professorships and faculty chairs, financial support for new learning facilities, and enhancements for academic and athletic programs.
“This campaign is critical to our ability to create opportunities for our students, our state and our world,” said WVU President E. Gordon Gee. “Reaching this milestone demonstrates how optimistic and committed our alumni and friends are to the important land-grant mission of West Virginia University, and we are grateful for their trust and their investments in our work. We will be a greater university because of their support.”
A State of Minds is the largest private fundraising campaign in WVU’s history. The $750 million goal is three times larger than the previous Building Greatness campaign from 1998-2003.
Fundraising focuses on six University-wide campaign priority areas that align with the University’s 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future:
- Enhance the undergraduate student experience and global education
- Advance the research initiative of the University
- Enable WVU to improve West Virginia’s health, economy and quality of life
- Foster faculty excellence
- Enhance WVU through professional and graduate education
- Support healthcare through research, education and patient care
Chairman of Putnam Investments and 1974 alumnus Robert Reynolds and Cadrillion Capital President Verl Purdy, a 1964 WVU graduate, are the national campaign co-chairmen.
A key component of this comprehensive campaign for WVU is the utilization of hundreds of volunteers. Along with a 23-member national volunteer committee, the campaign also has West Virginia and regional volunteer chairs. Each college and school has its own campaign committee with its chair also serving on the national committee.
Visit www.astateofminds.com for information on how you can help support the campaign.
