Campaign leaders pledge additional $2 million

Mon, April 30, 2001 |

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The couple serving as co-chairs of a major financial campaign in support of Valparaiso University have increased their record-setting gift by an additional $2 million.

Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg of St. Louis have committed the additional funds to create an endowment fund to support the teaching and study of a faculty member whose efforts focus on Lutheran music. Dr. Christopher Cock, associate professor of music, has been designated as first person to be supported by the endowment fund.

Dr. Cock conducts the highly regarded University Chorale and is an internationally recognized tenor, who recently performed the role of the evangelist in Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" in a VU production on campus and with the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra in California, both under the direction of noted German conductor Helmuth Rilling.

The Duesenbergs earlier made a $5 million commitment to the campaign, the largest single financial gift in University history. That gift was used to create an endowment fund to support a faculty member teaching in the area of Christian ethics and a second endorsement to support a faculty member in the area of church history and arts. They also helped fund construction of the proposed Center for Library and Information Resources and the Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center that opened last fall.

The Duesenbergs are serving as co-chairs of "Three Goals, One Promise: The Campaign for Valparaiso University," which was publicly launched a year ago with a goal to raise $75 million by Dec. 31, 2001. It was announced last weekend that, with eight months remaining in the campaign, gifts and pledges total more $85.5 million.

Phyllis Duesenberg earned her undergraduate degree at Valparaiso and is a respected proponent and friend of the arts and Lutheran music. Richard earned both his undergraduate and law degrees on campus before beginning a law career. He is retired senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Monsanto Corp.

Both Duesenbergs have served the University in a variety of ways and have been generous donors to previous campaigns in support of the School of Law, construction of the Center for the Arts, the scholarship program and the Brauer Museum of Art collection