Newswise — Gifts and commitments to Baldwin-Wallace College of more than $65 million have been announced as the College begins the public phase of the most ambitious private philanthropic undertaking in the school's history. The total includes more than $18 million from members of the B-W Board of Trustees.
According to Willard E. Carmel '51, campaign co-chair, Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Baldwin-Wallace College is a comprehensive effort to raise a minimum of $82 million for vital capital, endowment and operating programs.
"We have been truly inspired by the breadth of support that this campaign already has generated," said William B. Summers, Jr., '72, campaign co-chair. "Included in the total to date is an estate gift provided by the late Lohreta 'Lou' Higgins, a friend of the College from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. That gift was designated for expansion of the recreation center and permitted B-W to move ahead with one of its important capital projects, which now bears her name."
Eighteen individual commitments in excess of $1 million already have been provided by generous B-W trustees, alumni, foundations and other friends.
"We are off to a superb start," said Carmel. "Our goals are ambitious, but realistic and, with the continuing support of our alumni and friends throughout the B-W community, they are achievable."
The campaign will provide funding for campus renovation and construction, endowment for student financial assistance, faculty support and academic program enhancement. The largest component of the campaign will be directed toward the enhancement of campus science facilities, making possible expanded, state-of-the-art laboratories for teaching and research. It addition the project will create a physical space for B-W's Center for Innovation and Growth that is focused on economic development in Northeast Ohio and spreading entrepreneurial thinking across the campus.
The Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory will be renovated and expanded to provide instructional space, practice rooms and rehearsal halls to accommodate Conservatory programs which have grown, not only in stature, but in number of students and faculty.
The longtime College commitment to provide financial assistance to qualified students continues. Although B-W works tirelessly to contain tuition costs, with annual increases among the lowest of any college or university in Ohio, more than 90 percent of our students receive aid of some kind and financial assistance has become the largest component of our operating costs. Thus, funding for financial assistance is a vital component of the campaign.
"Since 1845, Baldwin-Wallace College has been committed to providing exceptional, student-centered opportunities for learning," said B-W President Richard Durst. "Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Baldwin-Wallace College provides us with the rare opportunity to enrich our educational programs and provides us with the rare opportunity to enrich our educational programs and thrust them forward, to look at new areas to explore and to make them accessible to a wide range of students. This campaign will assure the vitality of our College in the future."
Transforming Lives: The Campaign for Baldwin-Wallace College
"¢ Renovation, new construction, new equipment $49,000,000"¢ Scholarship support for students $18,000,000"¢ Faculty support and new academic initiatives $ 6,000,000"¢ To sustain excellence through the Annual Fund $ 9,000,000 Total $82,000,000
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