University of Arkansas Reaches $1 Billion Goal; Tyson Foods Foundation Gift Seals Campaign’s Success

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas has reached and surpassed the $1 billion goal set for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century thanks to a $12.5 million gift from the Tyson Foods Foundation.

The gift brings the Campaign total to $1.003 billion.

The gift is designated to the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the Division of Agriculture, the Sam M. Walton College of Business and other University of Arkansas programs.

UA Chancellor John A. White said: “Tyson has done it again! This is another magnificent gift that does so much to support excellence at the University of Arkansas. Not only did the Tyson family make one of the largest gifts to the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century just a few weeks ago, but now the foundation bearing the company name has come forward with an additional commitment to help us achieve our $1 billion goal. We are grateful to the Tysons, to Tyson Foods, and to the Tyson Foods Foundation for their loyalty and support.”

Vice Chancellor for University Advancement G. David Gearhart said: “With eight days remaining in this seven-year campaign, it sure feels good to have achieved our goal! This is a great day for the University of Arkansas and the State of Arkansas and we are most grateful to the Tyson Foods Foundation, as well as Tyson Foods Incorporated and the 120,000 team members who work there.

“We’d also like to thank the Tyson family and the thousands of other individuals, foundations and corporations who contributed to the campaign. This day is about celebrating this great undertaking and thanking everyone for their generosity and the lasting impact it will have on the University of Arkansas.”

Tyson Foods and the Tyson family have supported many university projects and programs over the years. Combined corporate, foundation and personal giving from Tyson entities to the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century has totaled more than $27 million over the seven-year effort and has included support for various scholarships, chairs and campus-wide programs.

“This generous gift culminates an exciting and fulfilling journey for alumni, friends, and the university community working together to achieve a successful campaign,” said Sandra K. Edwards, associate vice chancellor for University Development. “Clearly, the donors have responded to the institutional message and have given their resounding support. Our exceptional staff has taken an ambitious goal to heart and elevated every effort in providing quality service and meaningful giving opportunities.”

Clay Edwards, associate vice chancellor for University Development, said: “We owe a huge debt of thanks to the committee volunteers, the deans, the faculty and the professional development staff for their help in telling the story of the University of Arkansas and engaging as many prospective donors as possible. Their efforts have certainly made all the difference in connecting our alumni and friends with compelling opportunities. They have made philanthropy come alive at Arkansas. The Campaign for the Twenty-First Century continues from this point forward and every gift puts us that much farther over the goal.”

About Tyson Foods Inc.

Tyson Foods Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, and the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by TysonT” strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. Tyson has approximately 120,000 team members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world.

Don Tyson became president in 1966 of the company his father, John W. Tyson, founded. Don became chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods in 1967, and served in that capacity until the early 1990s. He continues to serve as a member of the board of directors for the company. Don Tyson is a member of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee and the Corporations and Foundations Committee.

John H. Tyson, Don Tyson’s son, is current chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. He began his academic career at the University of Arkansas and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1975. John Tyson is a member of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee and serves additionally as the chair of the Corporations and Foundations Committee and as vice chairman of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Report

(As of May 31, 2005, unless otherwise noted.)

• Start date: July 1, 1998; End date: June 30, 2005
•  Number of institutions currently seeking to raise $1 billion or more: 25 including the U of A
• Institutions that completed $1 billion campaigns in 2004: Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($2.053 billion), University of Texas ($1.626 billion), Washington University ($1.551 billion) Source: Chronicle of Higher Education
• Number of endowed positions created through the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century:

• Number of endowed scholarship and fellowship funds created through the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century: 1,675 (As of April 15, 2005)
• Number of individuals who contributed to the Campaign: 70,477
• Number of new donors during the Campaign: 41,250
• Number of donors, total, in history of U of A: 100,002
• Number of gifts and pledges to the Campaign: 287,660
• Endowment holdings pre-Campaign FY97: $119 million
• Endowment holdings FY04: $626 million
• Progress toward strategic objective goals:

Billion-Dollar Campaigns

According to a Chronicle of Higher Education report, and arranged in alphabetical order, the following 24 institutions are engaged in $1 billion-plus campaigns.

1. The California Institute of Technology; the goal is $1.4 billion by 2007
2. Dartmouth College; the goal is $1.3 billion by 2009
3. The Johns Hopkins University; the goal is $2-billion by 2008
4. Michigan State University; the goal is $1.2 billion by 2007
5. New York University; the goal is $2.5 billion by 2008
6. Purdue University; the goal is $1.5 billion by 2007
7. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; the goal is $1 billion by 2008
8. Stanford University; the goal was $1 billion by 2005
9. Texas A&M University at College Station; the goal is $1 billion by 2006
10. The University of Arizona; the goal was $1 billion by 2005
11. The University of California at Los Angeles; the goal was $2.4 billion by 2005
12. The University of California at San Diego; the goal is $1 billion by 2007
13. The University of California at San Francisco; the goal was $1.4 billion by 2005
14. The University of Chicago; the goal is $2 billion by 2006
15. The University of Iowa; the goal is $1 billion by 2005
16. The University of Kentucky; the goal is $1 billion by 2007
17. The University of Miami; the goal is $1 billion by 2007
18. The University of Michigan; the goal is $2.5 billion by 2008
19. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the goal is $1.8 billion by 2007
20. The University of Pittsburgh; the goal is $1 billion by 2007
21. The University of Virginia; the goal is $3 billion by 2011
22. The University of Washington; the goal is $2 billion by 2008
23. The University of Wisconsin at Madison; the goal is $1.5 billion by 2007
24. Vanderbilt University; the goal is $1.25 billion by 2008