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Reports Highlight Campaign Momentum

 

April 23, 2010

From VisionSMU newsletter

SMU received $421 million in total commitments to The Second Century Campaign as of February 26, representing more than 56 percent of the $750 million campaign goal. The public phase of the five-year campaign was launched September 2009.

During the February 26 meeting of the SMU Board of Trustees, Campaign Convening Co-chair Gerald J. Ford '66, '69 reported that almost 35 percent of alumni have made a commitment or contribution thus far in the campaign. SMU has set a goal of receiving a campaign gift from at least 50 percent of alumni.

In addition, the University is on track to meet its goal of achieving at least a 25 percent alumni participation rate each year of the campaign, Ford said.

President R. Gerald Turner told Trustees that 64 donors have provided campaign gifts of $1 million or more thus far. By way of comparison, the University received a total of 113 such gifts during the entirety of SMU's last campaign, "A Time to Lead." New gifts include:

  • $2 million from an anonymous donor to provide scholarships for students from Houston-area high schools.
  • $1.3 million from the William Armentrout Foundation to increase endowment for the W.E. Armentrout MBA Scholarship and the Susie V. and Edgar W. Armentrout Memorial Scholarships in Cox School of Business. 
  • $1 million from Susan Smith Cooper '62 and William R. Cooper '58 for the Bill and Susan Cooper Memorial Fountain.

President Turner also reported on a full slate of spring campaign activities. Highlights include:

  • Campaign events in five cities in the Pacific Rim led by Helmut Sohmen '66, co-chair of the Campaign Steering Committee for International Regions. 
  • Meadows at the Winspear in Dallas's new opera house benefitting the Meadows Scholars Program and honoring John C. Tolleson '70 and Debbie Tolleson.
  • Gathering for SMU alumni, family and friends in New Orleans hosted by Campaign Co-chair Carl Sewell '66 and Peggy Sewell '72.  
  • Dedication of new Caruth Hall, the third new building in Lyle School of Engineering to be completed in the last eight years.