October 31, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University is celebrating a landmark achievement, as its combined endowment has grown to more than $100 million.
According to Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, the $102.2 million total represents a 430 percent increase—from $19.3 million—since President Gary Ransdell took the helm in September of 1997.
“WKU has an overall goal to build a $200 million endowment by 2012,” Dr. Ransdell said. “Nationally, an endowment at this level will put WKU in a competitive position with other major comprehensive institutions. While we greatly appreciate our state funding, that support fluctuates from year to year. An endowment generates permanent support and ensures a high level quality for future generations of WKU students and faculty.”
Hiles said it is notable that it took the University 100 years to reach the $100 million endowment mark. “Dr. Ransdell’s goal to add another $100 million in five years demonstrates his ambitious vision for WKU,” he said.
In addition to its endowment growth, WKU has raised $104.6 million in new gifts and pledges to date in support of the New Century of Spirit Campaign. This figure represents gifts that were made in the two-year quiet phase of the campaign and in the weeks since the public announcement of the Campaign on Sept. 14, 2007.
Don Vitale, Co-Chair for the New Century of Spirit Campaign said, “The response to the new campaign has exceeded our expectations, and I am confident we can attain the $200 million goal.”
Campaign Co-Chair Rick Guillaume agreed. “I am so pleased by the results we have achieved thus far,” he said. “The results of the New Century of Spirit Campaign will help WKU achieve its vision to be a leading American university with international reach.”
“Moving beyond the $100 million mark in the Campaign represents an important milestone,” Hiles said. “It is significant that this amount eclipses the $102 million that was raised during all five years of our Investing in the Spirit Campaign, which concluded in 2003. This is a further demonstration of the growing support we receive from our loyal alumni and friends who support our vision for excellence.”
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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"A leading American university with international reach"
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