Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) experienced a growth of 15 percent over\u00a0last year\u00a0in total contributions for the 2011 fiscal year ending June 30.<\/p>\n
Total contributions were $5,627,312, up $744,555 from fiscal year 2010.<\/p>\n
“We are pleased that giving to the University Fund has remained strong, even as donors\u00a0have begun making significant\u00a0capital commitments to our campaign for the new Suter Science Complex,” said Dr.\u00a0Fred Kniss, provost and acting president of EMU.\u00a0“We are also quite fortunate to have an especially loyal core group of alumni and donors who persisted with steadfast support amidst continuing softness in the economy,” Kniss added.<\/p>\n
Contributions to the University Fund totaled $1,818,000, an increase\u00a0of nearly\u00a0two percent\u00a0over last year. EMU’s University Fund provides annual operating support for the institution as well as merit and need-based financial aid to students.<\/p>\n
According to Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement, EMU received several substantial\u00a0gifts that made the difference in total giving for the fiscal year. “We successfully completed a\u00a0$2.5\u00a0million theater and fine arts campaign.\u00a0\u00a0Over $520,000\u00a0of these funds were received during the year.\u00a0 This includes\u00a0naming gifts for a new studio theater,\u00a0art gallery and advanced media lab,” said Shisler.<\/p>\n
Several\u00a0substantial\u00a0contributions were also received in support of a campaign to raise funds for a new science facility at EMU. “We are in the\u00a0early phases of fundraising, and anticipate that several years of intensive effort will be required to reach our goal for this major project,” said Shisler.<\/p>\n
It was also a strong year for bequests at EMU.\u00a0 Gifts from the estates\u00a0of 19 donors\u00a0 amounted to nearly $1.1 million, an increase of 57 percent over\u00a0the previous year.<\/p>\n
“We are very grateful for the continued strong support for EMU in the midst of difficult economic times.\u00a0 We view this as an affirmation of the importance of our university’s mission,” said Kniss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"