July 13, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University celebrated another record-breaking year of fund raising this month, as it surpassed for the first time the $17 million mark in annual cash gifts received.
According to Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, an unprecedented $17.6 million in cash gifts from 18,514 donors were made in fiscal year 2006-2007 (up from 11,637 donors in 2001). This represented a 21 percent increase over what was raised last year.
In addition, a record was also set with WKU’s President’s Circle membership, with 2,317 donors contributing $1,000 or more to the institution – a 14 percent increase over last year’s President’s Circle numbers.
“When Gary Ransdell became president in 1998, WKU was raising about $3.5 million each year,” Hiles explained. “This more than 400 percent increase speaks to Dr. Ransdell’s longevity with WKU and his vision to transform the University. Further, it demonstrates our alumni and friends’ shared belief in that entrepreneurial spirit.”
Dr. Ransdell said the University’s fund-raising achievements have helped pave the way in meeting WKU’s overall goals for national distinction. “Private philanthropic investments provide the means to affect profound attitudinal, intellectual, financial, and physical changes in the campus,” he explained. “These gifts support our vision to be a ‘leading American university with international reach.’”
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.
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