Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University celebrated another record-breaking year fund raising this month, as it surpassed for the first time the $14 million mark in annual cash gift deposits.  According to Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, an unprecedented $14.5 million in cash gifts were made in fiscal year 2005-2006.

In addition, Hiles said WKU won the 2006 Kentucky Challenge for young alumni giving participation for the second straight year.  The Kentucky Challenge was a year-long friendly competition that compared annual giving participation from alumni who graduated in the last decade from public universities in the Commonwealth.  Other participating universities were:  Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. 

Giving highlights for 2005-2006 include:

*A record $14.5 million in private support from 18,913 donors during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.  This represented a 10 percent increase over what was raised last year. 

*A total of 1,294 young alumni donors.  WKU achieved a 9 percent participation of giving among young alumni--a number that was more than a percentage point higher than its nearest challenger.

*WKU’s combined endowment grew by 14 percent to reach a record $86 million.

*A record was also set with WKU’s President’s Circle membership with 2,036 donors contributing $1,000 or more to the institution – a 12 percent increase over last year’s President’s Circle numbers. 

“We are so appreciative of the support of our alumni and friends,” Hiles said.  “The three primary reasons for our success are a President with a dynamic vision of WKU as an educational leader, an experienced and proactive staff who asks for support, and most importantly a loyal and supportive base of alumni and friends who are committed to supporting WKU’s transformation.”

WKU President Gary Ransdell said he is also grateful to WKU’s supporters.  “We are exceedingly grateful to all of our donors no matter how large or small,” he said.  “The Kentucky Challenge, in particular, shows that WKU is leading the way with the support of our young alumni.  We are also extremely gratified that our endowment continues to grow by double digits each year.  An endowment is permanent and is the best way to ensure that a university is able to sustain a high level of excellence for years to come.”

The Kentucky Challenge win added to the achievements WKU has recently received.  These include:

*Won Grand Award for Best Overall Alumni Program for CASE-Kentucky each year of its existence

*Won Grand Award for Best Overall Fundraising from CASE-Kentucky three times

*Won Award of Excellence for six straight years from CASE District III

*Won Grand Award from CASE District III in 2005 for Total Educational Fundraising

*Won Grand Award from CASE-Kentucky in 2005 for Audio Visual Communications

*Won Grand Award from CASE-Kentucky in 2005 for Excellence in Feature Writing

*Won KY Challenge for Young Alumni Giving both years of its existence

*WKU Alumni Participation ranks in the top 10 in the country, ranks No. 1 in Sunbelt, Commonwealth of Kentucky, and all benchmark institutions.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For more information, contact Tom Hiles, (270) 745-6208.

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