University Giving Campaign Reaches Another Milestone

UC’s third-annual “We’re All UC” campaign exceeded its goal of 2,100 donors, with a total of 2,138 faculty and staff raising a record $9,540,772 to support hundreds of funds such as UC scholarships, departments, programs, medical research and athletics. UC President Nancy L. Zimpher announced the record achievement at the Oct. 24 State of the University Address in the Great Hall.

“Thank you again for sharing in our vision of the new urban research university and for caring enough for building a better community for all of us. We are all UC,” said President Zimpher.

The campaign officially got underway on May 1 and covered all gifts and pledges made from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. The UC Foundation mailed information more than 10,000 UC employees and retirees to encourage involvement in the campaign.

The campaign emphasized participation over gift size. UC Foundation reports the UC College of Medicine led all colleges and units in the number of donors with 462 people contributing to the campaign. On the West Campus, the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences claimed the largest number of donors, with 200 people taking part in the campaign. UC Athletics had 86 percent of employee participation in the campaign, while the College of Law held 84 percent; the College of Business reported 72 percent and UC Foundation reported a full 100 percent of employee participation.

In terms of amounts contributed, 586 people contributed $1,000 or more and 196 contributed $2,100 or more in the spirit of the UC|21 Strategic Plan.

UC Foundation hosted an afternoon reception and ice cream social to thank campaign donors and to recognize the honorary co-chairs of the campaign: Cora Ogle, Research Professor, Department of Surgery; William Heineman, University Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Chemistry, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences; and Dottie Stover, photojournalist for University Relations. Donors who contributed $1,000 or more received a print of Memorial Hall by local artist Tom Gaither, who also attended the reception and signed the prints.

Everyone who contributed to the campaign was invited to sign the “We Gave at the Office” banner at the back of the Great Hall. “We’ll display this on campus so that our students, parents, visitors and all will know how much we care,” said President Zimpher.

“We’re All UC” Campaign’s History of Success

2007: 2,138 donors raised $9,540,772
2006:  2,128 donors raised $8,968,291
2005:  1,875 donors (the highest in the previous five years) raised $6,117,300