Ohio State Raises Campaign Goal to $1 Billion

9-11-98
OHIO STATE RAISES AFFIRM THY FRIENDSHIP CAMPAIGN GOAL TO $1 
BILLION
COLUMBUS -- At an event Sept. 11 on the Oval, Ohio State 
President William E. Kirwan and Ohio State University Foundation 
Board Chair Thekla "Teckie" R. Shackelford announced the decision 
to raise the goal of "Affirm Thy Friendship," the university's 
five-year fund-raising campaign, from $850 million to $1 billion.
With this move, Ohio State joins the ranks of only six other 
public universities nationwide with a $1 billion campaign goal: 
UCLA; University of California, Berkeley; and the Universities of 
Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia.
"In todays knowledge-based, technological society, no state
government could possibly provide all the funds necessary for a 
university to be world class," explained President Kirwan. 
"Raising our goal -- and reaching it -- will enable us to meet 
needs that have grown since the campaign began, and to further 
build on Ohio States spectacular achievements."
"Affirm Thy Friendship," which began in 1995 and will 
conclude in 2000, has been tremendously successful to date. As of 
June 30, 1998, the campaign had raised over $776 million --
representing 91 percent of the initial $850 million goal raised 
in just 71 percent of the five-year time period -- from these 
donor groups:
* Alumni & Friends, $335,116,469
* Corporations, $276,721,445
* Foundations, $70,875,459
* Associations and Other Organizations, $75,654,002
* Faculty and Staff, $17,808,168
"We owe our success to our generous donors, but also to our
volunteers," said Jerry A. May, vice president for development 
and president of The Ohio State University Foundation. "The Board 
of Trustees, the Foundation Board of Directors, and countless 
supporters across the country have enabled us to join the 'major 
leagues' of fund raising."
New initiatives that have expanded original campaign needs 
include:
* Student Success Center, a one-stop learning mall providing 
integrated services designed to support a major university 
priority: improving the quality of life for all students.
* Mathematics and Statistics Learning Center, an exciting new 
cooperative venture using unique, multi-varied teaching and 
learning concepts.
* College of Veterinary Medicine building improvements, including 
Sisson Hall, to provide a new educational, administrative, and 
research facility.
* The World Media and Culture Center, an initiative of the 
College of Humanities to enhance foreign language instruction and 
the study of cultures. Incorporating cutting-edge technology, it 
is designed to meet the diverse language needs of both university 
and K-12 students and educators, as well as the larger community 
of learners beyond Ohio State.
* College of the Arts Complex, Theatre Research Institute (TRI), 
exhibition space, and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts 
and Design (ACCAD).
* Expanded constituency goals for a number of college units, to 
fund endowments and additional programs. Among the largest goal 
expansions are those for the Max M. Fisher College of Business, 
the College of Engineering, and the Department of Athletics.
These new areas of focus have been integrated into the 
original set of university priorities established in 1995, at the 
campaigns start:
* Scholarship Support for Students, including named scholarships 
and graduate fellowships
* Faculty and Teaching, including endowed chairs, professorships,
visitorships, faculty awards, and deans leadership funds
* Academic Learning and Leadership, including the Honors Program 
and teaching excellence
* Research and Service Partnerships with individuals and 
organizations worldwide
* Quality Learning Environment, including state-of-the-art 
classrooms and laboratories
* Arts, Culture, and Libraries, including the Wexner Center for 
the Arts, WOSU stations, and University Libraries
* Health and Wellness, including University Hospitals, the 
Medical Center, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research 
Institute, and health-related academic programs
* Annual Giving, which allows the university, its colleges, 
extended campuses, and programs to respond quickly and 
effectively to emerging opportunities
The "Affirm Thy Friendship" Campaign is dedicated in honor 
of the enormous contributions of the following Ohio State 
University Foundation Board directors in memoriam: John W. Berry 
Sr., Dorothy M. Davis, Daniel Galbreath, John B. Gerlach Sr., 
Alex Schoenbaum, and Melvin Schottenstein.
Contacts:  Jerry A. May, vice president for Development and 
president of The Ohio State University Foundation, (614) 292-
2970; Roger Addleman, director, Development Communications, The 
Ohio State University, (614) 292-3647.
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"AFFIRM THY FRIENDSHIP" CAMPAIGN
The Ohio State University
Facts & Figures
* Campaign launched in autumn 1995; will conclude in 2000.
* Campaign milestones *
* 55 new chairs and professorships started or completed
* 315 new scholarships and fellowships
* 182 new endowed research and program funds
* $ 51.9 million in unrestricted gifts to colleges, 
departments, and the university
* $147.1 million in gift additions to the university 
endowment, combined with investment gains, resulting in the 
growth of the endowment from a pre-campaign amount of $493 
million to more than $900 million
* 838,127 gifts received since the start of the campaign
* Ohio State ranks 7th in total private support among all public
universities and 18th among all universities, public or private
* The 1997-98 fiscal year was the most successful year in fund 
raising in Ohio State history, with $139 million in cash gifts 
and $45.8 million in new pledges and bequests received, totaling 
$184.8 million.
* During the 1997-98 fiscal year, a gift was received, on 
average, every 45 seconds of every business day.
* Campaign Total: $776,175,543.00 *
* As of June 30, 1998