Surging past goal, campaign concludes at more than $126 million

By Greg Brewis

A flurry of gifts and pledges received in the last few weeks made for an electrifying conclusion to the university’s largest and most successful fund-raising effort, which concluded May 31.

Although final totals were not available as Scene went to press, The Campaign for Pacific Lutheran University: The Next Bold Step will easily surpass its $100 million goal. Gifts and pledges stood at more than $126 million in late May. They include the establishment of an endowed chair in history, a new endowment to support research fellowships in the humanities and the assignment of lead funding for the Eastvold renovation project.

Don Morken '60 left, Marcia Moe and Dick Moe applaud the fund-raising successes at the Spring Donor Banquet.

Don ’50 and Naomi Roe ’53Nothstein have agreed to fund a significant endow-ment that will support the Kelmer Roe Research Fellowships in the humanities.

Dale and Jolita Benson, both ’63, have established the Benson Family Endowed Chair in History.
Karen Phillips ’55 has designated $5 million for the restoration and expansion of Eastvold. The auditorium there will be named Hille-Phillips Auditorium.

Last month, the campaign was close to meeting challenges from the Kresge Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust that will result in $1.8 million in matching gifts.

Funding for the Morken Center for Learning and Technology was near completion with construction planned to begin later this year.

“The campaign has added significant resources to the university’s endowment, operating funds and facilities, including the restoration of one of the oldest buildings on campus and the planned construction of a new academic center,” said Frank Jennings, co-chairman of the campaign.

Jennings spoke at the May 1 Spring Donor Banquet, where more than 400 donors and friends celebrated the campaign, another successful year for Q Club and the Annual Fund, and recognized Lifetime Giving Award recipients. “Your gifts have liberated generations of PLU students to address boldly the most critical issues of our time, supporting them as they set out to make the world a better place,” he said.

“Whether large or small, these gifts bond us together as a PLU family, serious of purpose, strongly committed and global in our reach,” PLU President Loren J. Anderson said. “And the significant point, I believe, is that life finds larger meaning when we connect with others, and when we invest ourselves in causes that are larger than our self-interest, and more enduing than the daily matters of work and life.”

More than 22,000 individuals contributed to the campaign with gifts ranging from $5 to $12 million. Faculty and staff gifts total more than $5 million. Members of the Board of Regents contributed more than $40 million.

Other Milestones

• The renovation of Xavier Hall provided a new home for programs in the social sciences and an endowment to support academic programs and technology.
  
  
• The market value of the university’s endowment grew to almost $50 million.
  
  
• Campaign gifts such as the $12 million commitment from an anonymous graduate provide support for facilities’ construction, scholarships and endowment.
  
  
• A $2 million grant from the Lilly Foundation in support of The Wild Hope Project, which is dedicated to working with students on questions of vocation.
  
  
• A $4 million dollar gift from Peter and Grace Wang established the Wang Center for International Programs to prepare students to be leaders in the global economy and to be advocates for world peace.