The Griffon News

With more than 86 percent of the desired goal already accounted for, Western’s Foundation  launched the $15 million Achieving Greatness Capital Campaign Tuesday Sept. 16 with an invite-only performance by award-winning artist Deana Carter.

Achieving Greatness is a five-year capital campaign to raise $15 million to aid Western with long-term projects.  From the desired goal amount, $7.5 million will be used for construction and renovation purposes, $5.5 million will open and maintain the Steven L. Craig School of Business, $1 million will be an endowment to expand support for student scholarships and the final $1 million will be put toward emerging needs.

Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement, said, “This is Western’s largest capital campaign ever, and we are hopeful that alumni and members of the community will see it as an investment in the future of the university and the community, and that they will support it as generously as they can.”

 

The event at the Missouri Theater in downtown St. Joseph celebrated Western’s campaign with the announcement of two large contributions: a $1 million pledge from an anonymous Western graduate and a $250,000 pledge from the Leah Spratt Charitable Trust.  Guests of the event enjoyed food and an hour-long performance by Carter free of charge.

“I couldn’t be happier with the event,” President Robert Vartabedian said. “We were very fortunate to have such a high level of entertainment.”

Vartabedian, Nicoson and former President James Scanlon appeared on stage with Carter and announced the two recent gifts to over 400 members of the community.

Jeanne Daffron, associate vice president for academic and student affairs, said, “We have a lot of support in this region and it’s nice to see all of that positive presence.”

Last October Wes and Patsy Remington pledged $5 million to the campaign to be used with the construction of a new building named in their honor as well as renovations for Agenstein Hall.  In May, Steven Craig pledged $5.5 million, the largest single contribution in Western history, to establish the Steven L. Craig School of Business.  

These contributions along with $150,000 gift from the W.T. Kemper Foundation and $100,000 gifts from the Beavers Foundation, the Goppert Foundation, the Thanksgiving Fund and others have accounted for  $13 million of the campaign’s goal.

In addition to large foundations and private donors, 78 percent of Western’s employees made pledges to the campaign that totaled more than $200,000.

“It’s wonderful to have such a high percentage of participation. For our own people to donate so heavily to this cause is very generous,” Daffron said.

Current students have also showed interest in contributing to the campaign.

“It would be great if students would be a part of the campaign as well,” Nicoson said. “Current students are the beneficiaries of past contributions and we hope they will help establish a great tradition of supporting those that follow.”

Nicoson said he knows current students are not likely to make large contributions, but any amount that allows them to be listed as donors would be appreciated.  

“Once they become alumni we hope they will join the tradition in the future,” Nicoson said. 

Nicoson also said some student organizations have indicated they might like to host fundraising projects to help contribute to the campaign.

Donors for this campaign are allowed to pay their pledges over five or more years.  Nicoson said it is likely that a new broad-based capital campaign would begin prior to 2013 though other focused campaigns can be arranged for specific needs before then.

The previous campaign, the Our Promise Campaign, began in 1999 and the pledges ended in 2004. The goal was $4.5 million, and Western exceeded that goal, Nicoson said.