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Maryville Fundraising Exceeds Year-End Goals

By August 11, 2009December 17th, 2021No Comments

8/11/09

Maryville University has announced that despite the challenging economic climate, fundraising goals in key areas were exceeded during the recently completed fiscal year (June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009). Overall, fundraising increased 87 percent, from $2.3 million in 2008 to $4.3 million during 2009.

“We are gratified by the generosity of the Maryville community,” said President Mark Lombardi. “Private support is vital to the well-being of the University. These gifts provide important resources for many different areas across campus, including academic programs, student services and annual fund needs.”

Donations were up in both alumni and non-alumni giving programs. The University also received a generous gift of land and property.

“Maryville University thrives because of our great leadership and the generous support of our alumni, parents and friends,” said Tom Eschen, vice president of institutional advancement. “Our alumni leaders, President Lombardi and the Board of Trustees are the foundation of our advancement progress.”

Faculty and Staff Giving
The annual faculty and staff giving campaign kicked off with a goal of 50 percent participation, nearly double that of the previous year. More than 200 Maryville employees donated to a variety of projects, resulting in 63 percent participation – an increase of 125 percent.

“When faculty and staff support Maryville in such a big way, it speaks volumes to our alumni, corporate and foundation donors and prospective donors,” said Amy Rauscher, assistant development director of the annual fund. “Even in tough economic times and facing a salary freeze, our colleagues stepped up and showed how much Maryville means to them.”

Alumni Participation
The number of Maryville alumni donors rose 53.7 percent over fiscal year 2008. Last year, 7 percent of alumni made a gift to Maryville. To improve that percentage, a $50,000 Power of 3 Alumni Challenge was established with a goal of 10 percent participation. The Challenge helped to surpass this goal, reaching 10.6 percent overall alumni participation.

The Challenge was funded by Julie Stein, ’68, retired teacher; Gregg Cole, ’94, ’04, president and CEO of Borusiewich & Cole, P.C.; and Tim Conlon, past parent and current member of the Maryville Board of Trustees, and president and chief operating officer of Viasystems Group, Inc. They were joined in these donations by their spouses, Jack Stein, Liz Cole and Mary Conlon.

Century II Society Challenge
The same donors for the Power of 3 Alumni Challenge also made possible a matching gift to raise membership in the Century II Society, Maryville’s highest-level giving club and the backbone of the University’s support. Normally, the giving level is $1,000; half that amount was covered this past year by the challenge program. The goal – to increase membership from 161 to 212 – was eclipsed with a total of 220 members. More than 25 percent of Century II Challenge participants are faculty and staff.

2009 Class Gift
With the Class Gift of 2009, Maryville graduates helped pave the way for the University’s future – literally. Each graduate who made a donation will be honored with an inscribed brick in the new walkway under construction near the Maryville Bell and archway, a historical icon in the campus quadrangle.

More than 350 graduates participated in the gift program, a marked increase over previous years. Plans for the walkway design include an Alumni Circle, comprised of bricks honoring graduating classes of each previous decade, beginning with the University’s founding in the early 1870s.

Generous Gift of Land, Property
Maryville University received a generous gift of land and property from Dick and Cheryl McKinley during the past fiscal year. Valued at more than $1.6 million, the McKinleys’ donation includes 92 acres of rolling hills, along with two residences and a small cabin in Augusta, Mo.

The McKinleys’ gift greatly enhances the University’s academic programs across a number of disciplines, including biological, botanical and geological research and astronomy studies. The larger residence will be used as a retreat center for faculty, staff, student and alumni groups.

“The tremendous support given to Maryville University in the past year is a testament to the strength and momentum of the University’s growth not only in fundraising, but also in regard to enrollment, expanded academic programs, capital improvements and resources,” Lombardi said.

Maryville University, founded in 1872, is a four-year, private university located in west St. Louis County. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges in the Masters-Midwest category, Maryville University students may choose from 50 academic programs, including degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Among recent graduates, 94 percent are employed or attending graduate school. More than 15,000 Maryville alumni work and live in the St. Louis region.

Catherine Boelhauf