| 03/07/2005 |
| Wesleyan exceeds capital campaign fundraising goal |
By SZYMON TWAROG
Middletown Press Staff
With 68 percent of alumni participating in the campaign, along with 3,472 parents, 219 corporations and foundations and more than half of the senior faculty, the university raised a total of $281 million, according to a press release. "With the success of this campaign, we have learned that our alumni, parents and friends are incredibly generous and they know their gifts can help shape the university," said Barbara-Jan Wilson, vice president for University Relations. "People had a wonderful time when they were students and that’s why they give. They want students to have the same opportunities that they had." Money raised in the campaign will be invested right back into the school in the form of renovations, new programs, more faculty and enhanced financial aid. "The thing we are proudest about the campaign is the increased financial aid capabilities its given us and scholarships we can now provide, as well as the reduced educational borrowing by our students, said David Pesci, director of media relations for Wesleyan Univer-sity. This was Wesleyan’s second capital campaign. The initial campaign was its Campaign for Liberal Learning, which raised $67 million when it ended in 1987. In 1995, a consulting firm advised Wesleyan to set a $100 million goal for this campaign, according to the release. "We decided we could do a lot better than that," Wilson said. "Our donors proved we were right." To contact Szymon Twarog, call (860)347-3331 Ext. 220 or email stwarog@middletownpress.com.
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