A Newsletter for Friends and Alumni of the University of Washington

Cover: Campaign UW passes the $2 billion mark

Nobody could have predicted that the largest philanthropic effort ever undertaken in the Pacific Northwest would be so successful it would reach a major milestone 18 months ahead of schedule. But that is exactly what happened when Campaign UW: Creating Futures passed the $2 billion mark earlier this year.

The UW Foundation Board received the news with applause and celebration at its January 2007 meeting, then responded with the proactive attitude that has defined the Campaign to date: by raising the final goal by $500 million. The additional resources will be sought for students, faculty, programs and capital construction projects.

“Our contributors … have been amazingly generous in their decisions to support the great work of this institution,” said Orin Smith (’65), UW Foundation chair. “We now have the opportunity in the next 18 months to raise additional funds to meet remaining needs, including substantial support for student scholarships.”

Since getting under way in July 2000, Campaign UW has had a dramatic impact on the UW’s three campuses, by supporting students and faculty, advancing research and education, constructing new facilities, and establishing groundbreaking programs.
At the College of Engineering, Campaign donors made possible the construction of a new facility to house the Department of Computer Science & Engineering as well as the establishment of numerous department chairs, professorships, student support funds, and an endowed deanship, which the College used to recruit Dean Matthew O’Donnell in 2006. The College of Arts and Sciences has endowed more than 100 new faculty positions, and the School of Medicine, currently in the midst of constructing a state-of-the-art research complex at South Lake Union, collaborated with the School of Public Health and Community Medicine to establish a new Department of Global Health. Meanwhile, students across all disciplines receiving scholarship and fellowship support have been freed from financial worries to concentrate on academics, to conduct research with faculty, and to participate in study-abroad programs, internships and extracurricular activities that enrich their educational experiences.

“None of these developments could have occurred without private support,” says Connie Kravas, vice president for development and alumni affairs. “In the remaining months of the Campaign, we will be able to create an even greater impact that will continue to reverberate for many years to come.”

Though it took extraordinary generosity from nearly a quarter of a million donors to reach the $2 billion goal, Campaign Chair William H. Gates (’49, ’50) credited the Campaign’s volunteers with helping to keep the effort on track and ahead of schedule. “The success of the campaign thus far is due to the outstanding generosity of our friends and alumni as well as the tireless efforts of our volunteers, staff and academic leaders,” he said. “It is a team effort that is going extraordinarily well.”

Above Image (from left to right): At the January UW Foundation Board meeting, directors Lex Gamble (‘59) and Gary Shansby (‘59) joined UW Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Connie Kravas in celebrating the announcement of the $2 billion Campaign UW milestone; President Emmert (‘75), Foundation Chair Orin Smith (‘65) and Campaign UW Chair Bill Gates (‘49, ‘50) marked the moment with cheers and applause; John Meisenbach spoke with Dan Evans (‘48, ‘49).

Extended campaign goal puts students first

The final months of Campaign UW will concentrate on raising an additional $500 million to fund student and faculty endowments, program enhancements and capital construction projects, with a specific focus on securing additional support for scholarships and fellowships through the Students First matching initiative.

“I want to thank all of you for getting us here. And now I’m going to tell you to keep on going,” UW President Mark Emmert (‘75) told Foundation Board members in supporting the goal increase. “Obviously we have about a year and a half in the campaign to go. We’ve had remarkable success to this point, and nobody’s even suggesting that we slow down for a minute.”

In addition to helping the University provide tuition support to Washington state residents through the Husky Promise, the additional support will help the University remain competitive among the world’s top research institutions while providing broad access to the University for people from all walks of life.

“The UW is not just about elite performance and access to excellence,” Emmert said, “it’s about bringing those two together.” The increased campaign goal, he said, will help the University fulfill those dual missions, adding, “I know that the University will put every one of those dollars to extraordinary use.”

For more on Students First visit www.uwfoundation.org.

Return to Spring 2007 Campaign Newsletter