Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia has surpassed the $500 million milestone in its Archway to Excellence Campaign with another 15 months left in the campaign.
President Michael F. Adams praised the commitment of alumni and friends who helped the university reach its target early, but said the fund-raising effort will continue according to its original time frame. “There is still much work to be done to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion,” he said.
“It is exciting to see the $500 million goal eclipsed so early in the campaign,” said John Spalding, chairman of the Arch Foundation board of trustees. “The Arch Foundation will continue to work closely with the university to keep the campaign’s momentum rolling.”
The university will carry the campaign to its planned conclusion date of June 30, 2008, continuing to seek gifts in support of the campaign’s three themes: building the new learning environment, maximizing research opportunities and competing in a global economy.
Gifts and commitments to date stand at more than $500.7 million, including more than $344 million from alumni and friends, more than $78 million from foundations, almost $64 million from corporations and approximately $13 million from other organizations.
“Breaking through our $500 million goal early is wonderful news on top of last year’s record breaking level of philanthropic support,” Adams added. “Our campaign success to date is a result of our donors, volunteers, faculty and staff being genuinely committed to the vision of UGA becoming a world-class institution. This shared commitment will not only push the Archway to Excellence Campaign well past the original goal, but will help UGA attain the excellence and national prominence that our alumni and the people of this state so richly deserve.”
Tom Landrum, interim senior vice president for external affairs, noted the university will continue the drive to build endowment, particularly for faculty and student support, and to meet other needs related to the campaign themes. “We will continue with the same level of enthusiasm that has brought the campaign this far to address specific needs that have been featured in our campaign plan,” he said.
The campaign conclusion will be celebrated formally after it closes in summer 2008.
