January 25, 2010
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University announced today record-breaking cash gift totals for the last
six months of 2009. According to Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, the University had cash receipts totaling $12.5 million from July 1, 2009-Dec. 31, 2009. “This achievement represents a 71 percent increase over what was received during the same time period the previous year,” Hiles explained. “It is also the highest six-month cash number the University has ever received.”
WKU is in the midst of the New Century of Spirit Campaign, a comprehensive campaign that will conclude on June 30, 2012. Hiles said the Campaign total currently stands at nearly $156 million toward a $200 million goal.
During the last six months, many alumni and friends have made significant gifts in support of Campaign. One of these individuals was Dr. Joseph Zaydon, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Bowling Green, who made a gift to create a scholarship in pre-medicine at WKU.
Pledging $100,000 in support of the scholarship, Dr. Zaydon’s gift was matched with $50,000 through three collective gifts from Dr. and Mrs. Jack Glasser of Bowling Green, Dr. Jerry Gibbs of Glasgow and Dr. Jannice Aaron of Smithfield. The entire $150,000 commitment from the four physicians was then matched by the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Regional University Excellence Trust Fund, which brought the total impact to $300,000 for the scholarship fund.
“We are very appreciative of Dr. Zaydon’s leadership gift and the support of Drs. Glasser, Aaron and Gibbs,” Hiles said. “This wonderful gift demonstrates the reason we have set a record in cash support in the first six months of the year. Our supporters have invested in dynamic positive changes taking place on the Hill. This is part of a University transformation that is rebuilding our campus and providing a legacy of endowments that provide significant quality enhancements to our students and faculty. We are very grateful.”
Rick Guillaume of Louisville, retired BB&T banking executive, is co-chair of the New Century of Spirit Campaign. “The Campaign Cabinet and the individuals involved in the New Century of Spirit Campaign can be very proud of WKU’s accomplishments for the entire year,” he said. “It has been a very challenging year within the financial markets, and the Campaign and its contributors have met the challenge with gifts totaling $12.5 million in the last six months. This performance signifies the great commitment of the University’s alumni and friends.”
WKU President Gary Ransdell agreed. “This has been a challenging economic environment, but our alumni and friends continue to support our shared vision,” he said. “We are indeed grateful for the strong vote of confidence their support brings.”
“I made this gift because it is needed,” Dr. Zaydon said. “It is a very expensive education to become a physician. It is almost impossible to get through pre-medicine and medical school without some type of financial help. As I am a physician myself, I am proud to have the opportunity to encourage other people to give and to recognize gifted students. I like giving, and there are so many areas that need help. This is just one of many.”
Dr. Zaydon said WKU has creative ways one can give, and they make it easy to give. “I would have given anyway, but I was able to take advantage of the matching money,” he said. “This allows WKU to take a substantial gift and make it even more substantial—from generous to tremendous.”
Dr. Zaydon, who has lived in Alvaton, Ky., since 1985, received his plastic surgery degrees from the University of Louisville and the University of California at Los Angeles.
President Ransdell said WKU is grateful for this new gift commitment. “Student scholarships are one of the most important priorities outlined within the New Century of Spirit Campaign, and the life sciences are a priority for WKU’s academic quality,” he said. “WKU is committed to providing endowed funds for competitive student scholarships, fellowships, and awards to recognize the academic achievements of its best and brightest applicants. Endowed scholarship funds directly support WKU’s vision to be a leading American university with international reach.”
More WKU news is available at http://www.wku.edu/news/index.html and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/.
For more information, contact Tom Hiles, (270) 745-6208.
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