Campaign nears $117 million

Tue, January 29, 2002 |

Gifts to Valparaiso University as part of a campaign publicly launched less than two years ago total nearly $117 million and will enable the University to break ground this spring on a new Center for Library and Information Resources.

Members of the University's Board of Directors, meeting in Chicago over the weekend, authorized start of construction on the new 115,000-square-foot building after hearing that the campaign has exceeded its $75 million goal by more than 50 percent.

Nearly $25 million in gifts and pledges were received during the past four months, including gifts of more than $15.4 million for the $33 million project to build the CLIR and fund related projects such as relocation of utilities, a parking area, a new campus entrance and road, and site preparation. Gifts to that project now total approximately $29.3 million and efforts continue toward securing the amount needed to totally fund it.

Goal of the campaign, which was announced in May 2000, was $75 million. The last previous campaign at the University was a $35 million campaign that included construction of the Center for the Arts in 1995.

University President Alan F. Harre expressed appreciation to Richard and Phyllis Duesenberg of St. Louis for their leadership, which he described as essential to the success of the campaign that was titled "Three Goals, One Promise: The Campaign for Valparaiso University." In addition to helping manage the efforts of University staff and more than 300 volunteers, the Duesenbergs made commitments to the campaign totaling $7 million.

"The generous support of many wonderful people means the promise of Valparaiso University to provide academic excellence in a tradition of faith and learning will continue to be fulfilled," Phyllis Duesenberg said. "Among the many benefits of this campaign are support for an excellent teaching faculty, new and improved facilities, and additional funding for student financial aid."

Richard Duesenberg called the success of the campaign personally rewarding and said campaign contributors were enthusiastic in their praise of the institution.

"It was exciting to see that alumni and friends associated with the University for many years were very generous in stepping up to support this campaign," he said, "but I was especially impressed with the number of new major donors who joined the effort. They were clear in stating that they like the things they see happening at the University and want to be a part of it."

Included in the $117 million total is approximately $25 million committed as part of estate gifts.

President Harre said virtually every aspect of the University operation will benefit from the success of the campaign. In addition to construction of the CLIR, among benefits provided through the campaign include:

· Five endowed faculty positions;

· Approximately $14.4 million to endow student scholarships;

· Construction of the Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center;

· Approximately $9.5 million to support classroom improvements and programming in the College of Engineering;

· Approximately $1.2 million for the School of Law to support operations and increase student scholarships;

· Addition of the Schrage Basketball Wing for additional office space in the Athletics-Recreation Center; and

· Construction of a new baseball clubhouse and improvements to the soccer stadium.