Babson Celebrates Historic Campaign With Two Anonymous Bequests Totaling $58.7 Million; Babson Rising Campaign Raises $204 Million...and Counting

WELLESLEY, Mass., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College's "Babson Rising" campaign has raised more than $200 million, making it the largest and most successful fund-raising drive in the history of the College. With the help of two anonymous bequests totaling $58.7 million, Babson Rising has raised over $204 million to date, successfully exceeding its fundraising campaign goal nearly four months before the campaign's scheduled closing date.  

President Len Schlesinger announced the campaign news and thanked donors at a celebration with alumni, faculty, staff and students as Babson kicked off its annual Back to Babson homecoming and reunion festivities.

"Through the generosity of the Babson community, and the exceptional leadership of campaign chairman Bob Weissman, Babson Rising is helping us take our mission of preparing leaders to create economic and social value for our rapidly changing world," said Babson President Len Schlesinger.  "I am deeply grateful to all who have joined in this historic effort and offer special thanks to the two anonymous donors whose generous bequests allowed us to celebrate this important milestone several months early."  

Schlesinger continued, "As our early attainment of our financial goal demonstrates, there is almost nothing that the Babson community, working together, can't accomplish when we are determined to reach a goal.  That is why, with a little over three months remaining until the official close of the campaign, and with so many opportunities ahead of us, the sky is the limit. The more we raise, the more we can do. The more we can do, the greater our impact. The greater our impact, the stronger our world."

Proceeds from the campaign are supporting the development of academic and research activities, providing scholarships to deserving students, supporting programs that advance Babson's mission, and strengthening Babson's renowned entrepreneurship-infused curricular and co-curricular offerings.  During the next 100 days, Babson seeks to raise an additional $15 to $20 million to advance four priorities: the Center for Women's Leadership, the Coaching for Leadership and Teamwork Program, Financial Aid, and Living and Learning Entrepreneurially.

"The response of our alumni and friends has been overwhelming," said Bob Weissman '64, chair of the Babson Rising campaign.  "They understand that Babson stands at the forefront of educational institutions poised to make a lasting impact on the world and recognize the critical role Babson plays in educating entrepreneurial leaders.  Their generous support is enabling Babson to expand and enhance efforts to attract great faculty and students, provide the most current learning materials and offer a living and learning environment so that our students are prepared to immediately create economic and social value everywhere."  

Babson Rising, formally launched in the fall of 2007 under the leadership of then President Brian Barefoot, is the College's most ambitious campaign in the school's 90-year history.  

About Babson
Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds®. The College is a dynamic living and learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society -- while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value.  For information, visit www.babson.edu.

SOURCE Babson College