Halfway through the $1.2 billion Campaign for MSU, officials said donations are on the rise and more money could be on the way from Detroit's Big Three automakers.
On Tuesday, representatives from the automotive industry will meet with university officials at a formal banquet to kick off the matching donation portion of the fund raiser.
For every dollar employees of DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. donates, the company will match the donation.
Stuart Jeffares, senior manager of strategic planning for DaimlerChrysler AG, said the company has many MSU alumni as employees, and many want to support education at MSU.
"It's a pretty good match," he said. "You can get a lot of competition.
"Here's a way we can all come together."
MSU Vice President for University Development Charles Webb said each college on campus has a set of objectives for the use of the money donated, but officials want to put $450 million of the donations toward endowments.
The endowments would create scholarships for students and ensure faculty positions and academic programs, Webb said.
"Success will be built on success of colleges and academic units," he said.
Marti Heil, associate vice president for University Development, said they like to have donors meet with faculty members and students so they see how donations affect recipients.
"It shows the passion," she said.
Students also have gotten involved in the campaign by working as telemarketers. With the average gift being $50, Webb said it's impressive students on the phone have raised $2 million.
Amidst distractions such as the March 28-30 disturbances, MSU President M. Peter McPherson's possible departure for Iraq and a slow economy, Webb said the five-year long fund raiser has already collected $685 million - half of the money needed.
"It's been a challenging environment," he said. "People have dug deeper."
Sept. 20 marked the start of the public donation phase for the campaign which will end June 30, 2007.
People can donate by way of cash, deferred pledges and life income agreements, Webb said.
In September, Trustee Dee Cook and her husband, Bryan Cook, pledged $1 million to the School of Music. In the same month, Trustee Randall Pittman and his wife, Mary Pittman, pledged $6 million for the restoration of Marshall Hall.
Webb said MSU's senior class also has gotten involved with the campaign through their class gift.
Staff writer Melissa Sanchez contributed to this report.
