NEWS

A first for Carolina First: $180 million in 2002 breaks record for university fund raising

By CHRYS BULLARD

Office of University Development

CHAPEL HILL -- True blue Tar Heels made fiscal 2002 the best fund-raising year ever for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with $180 million received in gifts and private grants. This figure represents a 12 percent increase over last year’s total of $160 million and brings to six the number of consecutive years the university has surpassed $100 million in private giving.

"Our donors are awesome," Vice Chancellor of University Advancement Matt Kupec said. "They believe in the university and its mission and have committed their financial resources to enrich the experience of every student and faculty member on this campus."

Bequests and life income gifts posted the largest gain, generating $10.9 million against $3.4 million in fiscal 2001 – a 221 percent increase. Stock gifts multiplied by 25 percent from $12.7 million in 2001 to $15.9 million in 2002. Gifts from corporations grew by 30 percent and donations from alumni rose by 10 percent from $29 million in 2001 to $32 million in 2002. Participation by Chancellor’s Club members, the senior class, parents and via the Internet also increased significantly.

"We’re excited about the opportunities our donors have created," said Associate Vice Chancellor of University Development Margie Crowell. "Faculty, students, research, public service, facilities – all will benefit."

Gifts received during the fiscal year include a challenge gift from the W.R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust that has the potential to create the largest endowed professorships in university history. Ten $3 million Eminent Professorships will be named if the challenge is met by other Carolina donors. Generous support for professorships also came from alumnus Alston Gardner, a 1977 alumnus, who boosted international studies with a $10 million leadership gift encompassing a professorship, study abroad program and speaker series.

Dr. William Ferris, former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a widely recognized leader in Southern studies, joined the university faculty, thanks in part to a commitment of funds from an anonymous donor. Faculty member David McNelis and his wife, Gladys Hau McNelis, pledged $2.5 million to establish a professorship in the Carolina Environmental Program, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation gave $1 million to establish the Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy. Physical therapy received its largest gift ever with a bequest from the estate of L’Vir Sande that established 10 scholarships – a first for the program.

Generous gifts from foundations and individuals enhanced programs and curricula. The Freeman Foundation contributed $2 million in support of the Asian studies program. A grant of $3.96 million from the Lilly Foundation supported the first major national baseline study of the religious practices of American youth. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation donated $1 million to the School of Public Health to support scientific, educational and practice-based initiatives. The National Endowment for the Humanities issued a $500,000 challenge grant to the College of Arts and Sciences in support of the Ancient World Mapping Center. Gifts from the Spray Foundation of Atlanta and the Randleigh Foundation Trust of Chapel Hill enabled Carolina to out-recruit several other top universities, including Yale, for three outstanding young teachers and scholars.

Gifts received during the year will count toward the university’s Carolina First campaign, a multi-year initiative with the goal of making the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the nation’s leading public university. Carolina First kicks off Oct. 11 with an announcement of the campaign goal and funds raised to date. For more information on the campaign see http://carolinafirst.unc.edu.

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Office of Development contact: Speed Hallman: (919) 962-0027, speed_hallman@unc.edu