Newswise — Butler University will conclude its human capital campaign ButlerRising having raised $153,727,258 the University announced May 15.
When the five-year campaign officially closes May 31, total pledges and gifts will stand at more than $28 million above the initial goal of $125 million, marking it as Butler's most successful campaign in its 154-year history.
"I am very grateful to all the alumni, donors and friends who willingly gave their financial backing and made personal sacrifices so that ButlerRising could succeed," Butler President Bobby Fong said. "Their support has helped move Butler University ahead in its aspiration to be one of the nation's leading comprehensive universities."
Focused on investing in Butler's human capital [the intellectual and creative capabilities of its faculty, staff and students], the campaign sought to raise money for three main areas: student scholarship and support, academic initiatives, community and facilities. The largest focus " $30 million " was directed toward endowed scholarships to help make a Butler education accessible to qualified students, regardless of family income.
To date, 125 new endowed scholarship funds and 21 new annual scholarships have been generated through ButlerRising gifts.
Other achievements include: "¢ Construction of the Clowes Pavilion, Edison-Duckwall Recital Hall and Ford Salon, elements of the campus Performing Arts Complex, as well as the Efroymson Diversity Center, a gathering place for students to understand and appreciate diverse cultures and backgrounds. "¢ $20.5 million in planned gifts, which Butler will receive in the future. "¢ Endowment of the Center for Faith and Vocation, Center for Citizenship and Community, Center for Urban Ecology and the Global and Historical Studies program. "¢ Four new endowed chairs. "¢ Sixteen new academic support funds, in fields as wide ranging as physics, accounting, Asian culture, biology, peace and religion. "¢ Eighteen new named spaces on campus and many more facility improvements.
Additionally, the physical landscape of the University has changed. A $14 million, 40,000-square-foot, four-story addition to Butler's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences building is currently under construction.
Locker rooms in Hinkle Fieldhouse were updated, and a new turf field was added to the Butler Bowl football and soccer stadium. In the coming months, bleachers will be added to the Bowl. Finally, a new 450-seat performance hall will be built between Clowes Memorial Hall and the Jordan College of Fine Arts to accommodate Butler's student dance, music and theatre performances, as well as cultural events for campus and the public.
Close to 20,000 donors have made pledges and gifts thus far to ButlerRising. Some $1,150,000 in gifts and pledges came from Butler's own faculty and staff members. D. Mark Helmus, vice president for advancement, said this is an outstanding figure compared with typical employee giving in university capital campaigns.
"These numbers are a wonderful testament to the pride our own faculty and staff have in this institution," Helmus said. "They want to see Butler continue to improve and progress."
During the course of the campaign, Butler received two grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. — $22 million to support the Butler Business Accelerator and $25 million to support the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
ButlerRising was built on the framework of the University's 2004"2009 strategic plan, Dare to Lead: A Vision of Butler Education for the New Century. A new strategic plan, to be implemented in fall 2009 and to continue through May 2014, Dare to Make a Difference, will set new challenges for Butler University in the years ahead.
RSS