CAMPAIGN MARKS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIC LAUNCH

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Twelve months and an additional $392 million mark the one-year anniversary of the public launch of the University of Arkansas Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

The Campaign kick-off was held Oct. 26, 2001, during a pep-rally style event on the steps of Mullins Library to which the entire campus community was invited. The Razorback Marching Band and Pom Squad and Cheerleaders were on-hand to help unveil the unprecedented $500 million goal to the public for the first time. At that time, the Campaign had raised $270,334,234 in gifts and pledges. Campaign totals are now more than $663 million in gifts and pledges.

The Campaign is helping the University of Arkansas achieve its vision of a nationally competitive, student-centered research University serving Arkansas and the world.

Much has happened in the past year.

"The Campaign’s continued success is due to the astounding generosity of our alumni and friends. While we are pleased with this progress, there is still much work to be done," said G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement. "Our work to raise funds for scholarships, faculty, academic programs, University Libraries, new and enhanced facilities and for immediate use is more important now than ever. If we are to serve the growing population of students, attract and retain outstanding faculty and continue to create and enhance an environment of scholarly promise and academic potential, increased private gift support, and namely the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century is central to our success."

In April, the University announced a $300 million challenge gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, which helped push Campaign totals to the current level. That gift led to the creation of The $300 Million Challenge, a campaign-within-a-campaign to raise an additional $300 million in gifts and pledges designated for academic support by the end of the Campaign on June 30, 2005. As of Oct. 23, the Challenge total stands at $53.2 million.

Another change over the past year is that the Steering Committee, the volunteer group of alumni and friends driving the Campaign, lost four members with the deaths of Kenneth Pat Wilson of Jacksonville, George Billingsley of Bella Vista, William Dillard Sr. of Little Rock and M.D. Matthews of Houston, Texas.

"These men were valued members of the committee and their vision and leadership will be missed," Gearhart said.

Joe E. Richardson stepped forward to lend his service as a new member of the Steering Committee. He is a retired Pfizer executive from Rogers.

In April 2002, the overall Campaign goal was raised to $900 million and the Campaign timeframe was extended another year to end June 30, 2005. In June 2002, Jim Walton became presiding co-chair of the Campaign and will remain in that post until June 30, 2003. The Steering Committee also announced that Tommy Boyer, immediate past presiding co-chair, would return to the presiding co-chair post the final year of the Campaign between 2004-2005.

A gala was also held in April to celebrate the Campaign’s progress and attended by nearly 700 UA alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff.

Several units reached or exceeded their individual funding goals in the past year and are currently in discussions about the possibility of raising their goals. The College of Education and Health Professions, Arkansas Alumni Association, University Libraries and the Graduate School are among the units to reach their funding mark in the past year.

"It’s been a good twelve-month period," Gearhart said. "Even though our nation has been faced with severe economic challenges, we’ve experienced quite a bit of success. We are anticipating the recovery of the stock market and other financial indicators that point to an increased ability among our benefactors to invest in the University. We will continue to visit people and tell the remarkable story of the University of Arkansas."

In addition to Boyer and Jim Walton, other volunteer leaders for the Campaign are J. Frank Broyles who will become presiding co-chair on July 1, 2003; Rob Walton, who served as presiding co-chair during the Campaign’s silent phase from July 1, 1998, until June 30, 2000. Johnelle Hunt is serving as treasurer for the Campaign’s duration.