| April 19, 2001 |
Contact: Lance
Wallace |
With gifts totaling more than $207.7 million, Mercer University President R. Kirby Godsey announced during the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees today the overwhelming success of the first two phases of the most ambitious fund-raising effort in the University's history Ð Mercer 2000: Advancing the Vision Campaign.
President Godsey announced Phase I of the five-year campaign raised more than $145.7 million, resulting in 115.66 percent of the $126 million goal.
Before publicly kicking off the second phase of the Campaign, President Godsey declared it completed. Phase II, which totaled another $62 million, was completed because of the generosity of Remer H. and Emily Fisher Crum. Through a bequest, the Atlanta couple gave Mercer and LaGrange College the Atlanta business park known as Century Center, valued at $124 million, to be split equally between the two educational institutions. The gift is the largest from individuals in the University's history.
"The success of this campaign ensures academic distinction for Mercer and an enduring investment in our students and faculty," said Robert Hatcher, chair of the Board of Trustees. "Additionally, the level of success that the University has achieved with this campaign clearly shows that Mercer's reputation for excellence is well known and widely supported."
Immediately after announcing the conclusion of Phase I and II to some 450 trustees, alumni and friends gathered at Sea Island, Ga., President Godsey revealed plans for Phase III of the campaign and its $100 million goal. Phase III will include campaign components for the schools of Business and Economics, Engineering, Pharmacy and Medicine and Grand Opera House, College of Nursing and a new math and science building, which will total $50 million. The other $50 million in the campaign will be designated for university endowment.
"The Mercer 2000: Advancing the Vision Campaign was designed to prepare Mercer University to meet all of the challenges of educating students in the new millennium," said President Godsey. "What this campaign truly means to the University may not be realized for years to come. But the realization will come and the benefits will exceed anything we can imagine."
Former U.S. Attorney General Judge Griffin B. Bell served as general campaign chairman, and Atlanta attorney Robert L. Steed was executive vice chairman. More than 1,000 volunteers served on campaign committees.
During the campaign, 40,158 gifts were received from alumni, 13,465 from faculty and staff, 6,403 from friends, 4,713 from parents, 3,925 from churches, 2,741 from corporations and businesses, 1,318 from trustees, and 164 from foundations.
Phase I of the campaign resulted in 32 endowed faculty chairs and professorships and 120 endowed and 34 expendable scholarships. Also established were four new lectureships and a symposium.
Some campaign highlights include the naming of the Jack Tarver Library and memorabilia room, opening of the Will C. Sealy History of Medicine Library and Archives, establishment of University Commons, furnishing of the Powell-Williamson Board Room in the School of Education, the equipping of the John and Linda Blanchard Classroom in the School of Theology and the development of the Jesse Mercer Plaza.
The campaign has allowed the University to construct, renovate or expand numerous facilities. Among the construction projects on the Macon campus have been a state-of-the-art music building, 18 Greek houses, campus residential halls, campus police headquarters, smart classrooms and computer labs. Five additional buildings were renovated. Under construction on the Macon campus is a new Baptist Student Union, which is scheduled to open this summer.
In Atlanta, the University has constructed the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology and apartments, equipped smart classrooms, renovated Cecil B. Day Hall and Davis Administration Building, and has under construction additional apartments and two new classroom buildings.
"A vision of excellence, with a commitment to high principles and strong ideals, draws special people to the vision," Judge Bell told the gathering. "They are people who want to make a difference in the world by providing the best in education to generations of students and who highly value investing in students with the results of a better world today and tomorrow."
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