The University's Nursing School recently surpassed its Capital Campaign goal of $10.2 million, following a pledge of $800,000 from the Theresa A. Thomas Memorial Foundation.
The Campaign's recent fundraising success marks the third time the Nursing School has met and passed their Campaign goal. The original goal set in 1993 was $5.1 million. It was raised to $5.85 million in 1995 and in 1996 the goal was increased to the present $10.2 million.
The pledge from the Foundation brings its total contribution to the Nursing School to $3.4 million.
The Campaign money primarily will be used "for scholarships and endowments for professor fellowships," said Karen Ratzlaff, coordinator of Donor and Media Relations at the Nursing School.
Since the Campaign began, the School has been able to create 33 endowed scholarships and fellowships, eight professorships, one endowed research award, one endowed lectureship and provide about $1 million to the faculty for research and $1.2 million in unrestricted gifts.
The money from the Foundation has helped create the Intensive Care Simulation Lab and the Thomas Nursing Scholarship Fund.
Nursing School Dean Jeanette Lancaster pointed out that the money is best used for scholarships and fellowships because from the beginning "the whole Campaign has been about people."
Reaching the goal has "been very exciting and has motivated us to keep going ... to reach $10.2 million has just been astounding," Ratzlaff said.
The School plans to continue its current fundraising techniques, but it will not raise its Campaign goal again.
"We have already raised it twice, we're [going] to continue working and see how far we can go ... the momentum is picking up," Lancaster said.
Fundraising techniques include advertising in the alumni magazine and sending Lancaster on the road to promote the Campaign.
"Individuals have been the backbone of our Campaign ... we are very fortunate to have very loyal alumni," Ratzlaff said.
"We are ecstatic and grateful ... so many people have believed in our School and what we are doing," Lancaster said.
The Campaign for the Nursing School is part of the University's Capital Campaign to raise $1 billion by December 2000. So far the University has raised $970.9 million.
Lancaster said the Nursing School's Campaign has been very successful compared to other schools in the University.
Although the Nursing School does not match up dollar for dollar to other schools -- such as the Law School which has raised over $100 million -- Lancaster said the Campaign's growth has been "enormous, considering that the Nursing School has a very different donor pool" due to the nature of the nursing profession.
She said the Campaign's success can be attributed to volunteers and the efforts of the development staff.
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