The University of Connecticut has announced that $202 million has been raised through the Our University. Our Moment. fund-raising campaign, putting the University one-third of the way toward reaching its $600 million goal.
The fund raising includes $143 million for programs, $32.4 million for students, $13.7 million for faculty, and $13.2 million for capital projects. So far, $57 million has been raised toward the endowment.
“We’re happy with the promising start of the campaign and the momentum we’re building,” says UConn President Michael Hogan. “With the support we’ve raised for students, faculty, and programs, we’re also making progress toward building the endowment, which is vital to UConn’s future.”
UConn has received a number of million-dollar gifts, including $1.15 million from Gary Gladstein ’66, ’08 (honorary) for the Human Rights Institute, $1 million from Robert ’68 and Carlotta ’68 Holster to fund an endowment for the Honors Program, and a planned estate gift estimated at $1 million from Edward ’58 ’63 and Judith ’65 Stentaford for an unrestricted fund at the School of Fine Arts.
Campaign Chairman Denis M. McCarthy ’64 ’65 reports a positive outlook for this fiscal year and beyond.
“We’re cautiously optimistic about the coming year, and more optimistic about the remainder of the campaign over the next four years,” McCarthy says. “Donors are excited about the campaign. And they’re telling us that they’re feeling increasingly confident about the country’s economy as well as their own financial situations. We, like all institutions, are feeling the effects of the recession, with state budget cuts and a decline in our endowment value, but we’re starting to see some positive indicators.”
McCarthy adds that the campaign is helping engage more alumni with the University.
“Our message is resonating with alumni, who understand how important private support is, especially today, and that this is our moment to really take UConn to the next level,” he says. “Our friends and the business community are excited and getting more involved too, because they understand the critical role UConn plays in educating our workforce and driving the state’s economy.”
