With a gift from MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and her husband, Roy, university officials exceeded their goal of raising $1.2 billion — and they did it a year ahead of schedule.
The Campaign For MSU, the university's capital campaign, was launched Sept. 20, 2002.
"The purpose of the campaign is to raise private dollars from individuals, foundations and corporations to support endowments, including scholarships, faculty research and faculty positions," President Simon said. "The campaign also adds support for buildings and intercollegiate athletics."
President Simon and Roy Simon, director of telecommunication and transportation systems, were inducted into the Clifton R. Wharton Society, which is for those who have donated $2.5 million to $5 million or planned gifts of at least $3.75 million to the university, said David Porteous, chairman of the MSU Board of Trustees.
"Both Roy Simon and President Simon have very thoughtfully, over a period of time, considered what they wanted to do for MSU and very purposefully come to a heartfelt sense of responsibility," said Charles Webb, MSU's vice president for university development. "I am not aware of any other president at another university that has given at the level the Simons have. They will leave a legacy that is very important."
Webb said he cannot disclose the exact amount of the Simons' donation, but it is a combination of substantial cash gifts and newly planned gifts that in total make them eligible to be in the Wharton society.
President Simon said private support is essential to MSU's future.
"MSU has given much to Roy and me, and we believe it is important to give back to the institution so that individuals in the future might benefit from having an education at MSU," President Simon said.
The nearly seven-year effort benefits the university in a wide number of ways, including constructing new buildings, refurbishing and updating existing buildings, increasing and creating endowments and scholarships, Porteous said.
Many academic units on campus made their goals of donated funds for the campaign, Webb said.
"When I say it was a collective effort, that is exactly what it was," Webb said. "Since the beginning of the campaign, our faculty, staff and retirees have given in excess of $81 million, both in current and future gifts, to the university."
Alumni and public donations also contributed to reaching the $1.2 billion goal, Webb said.
"The MSU Black Alumni Association has exceeded their $1 million goal," Webb said.
Although the goal of raising $1.2 billion was met, the university's goal of raising $450 million for endowments has not been met. Almost $380 million has been raised for endowments.
"The capital campaign touches almost every aspect of the university," Porteous said. "In the eight years I have been on the board, this is probably the most important achievement of the university during that time, and one of the greatest beneficiaries is not just the current students, but the students of the future."
When the campaign was created, some people thought the goal was impossible to reach, Porteous said.
"At the time, I don't think anyone realized the very tough financial challenges we would be facing because of reduced state funding," he said. "It has really helped during these really challenging times, and it is not possible to continue to be a world-class university without initiatives like the capital campaign."
Fredricka Paul can be reached at paulfred@msu.edu.
