Oklahoma State University Campaign Passes $750 Million on Its Way to $1 Billion Goal

More than $250 million raised in 2010-11

STILLWATER, Okla., July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tremendous support from alumni, corporations and foundations, faculty and staff, and other friends of Oklahoma State University helped push Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University past the $750 million mark during fiscal year 2010-11, according to year-end reports released today by the OSU Foundation. In addition to achieving the campaign milestone, more than $250 million was committed in a single year.

From July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011, $252.8 million was committed to the University, which was more than double the $115 million goal for the period. The support came in the form of outright gifts, pledges, bequests, and gifts in kind. Sixteen months after announcing the public phase of the campaign, $756.4 million has been raised to support students, faculty, facilities, and programs – the four campaign priorities.

"We are on a remarkable pace and I want to thank all our supporters for helping the Branding Success Campaign reach the milestone of $750 million," said OSU President Burns Hargis. "OSU alumni and friends have embraced the campaign vision and goals and their giving is catapulting Oklahoma State University to a new level of scholarship, academics and facility development. Their generosity will have an impact on students today and well into the future."

The $120 million Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match (PLSM) – named for and made possible by two gifts from alumnus, philanthropist and businessman T. Boone Pickens – was one of the highlights of the year. The PLSM program was announced in 2010 with an initial $100 million challenge gift from Pickens, who increased the amount by $20 million in 2011 when he learned the match initiative had generated a record number of qualified gifts.

Pickens' vision motivated others to help OSU accelerate toward its goal of raising $500 million for scholarships as part of the Branding Success Campaign. More than $386.4 million has been raised toward that goal.

"The Pickens Legacy Scholarship Match has been a transformational, record-breaking success, inspiring a new generation of donors to OSU," said Kirk Jewell, president and CEO of the OSU Foundation. "The program created an environment of unprecedented energy and passion in our campaign, which continues today as we move closer to our ultimate goal of $1 billion."

Other highlights of the campaign to date include:

• 720 new scholarships
• 124 new endowed chairs and professorships
• 66,676 campaign donors

"Today we celebrate this moment in the Branding Success campaign that has brought us a stronger institution, rekindled our pride as Cowboys and dramatically enhanced the resources and reputation of Oklahoma State," said Ross McKnight, Branding Success Campaign co-chairman. "We are deeply grateful to the OSU alumni and friends who have brought us this far, and now we must finish strong. We must take this moment and accelerate to the finish line."

For more information about Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University, please visit www.OSUgiving.com. 

About the OSU Foundation

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

About OSU

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs to better prepare students for success. As Oklahoma's only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research, and outreach. OSU has more than 35,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 23,000 on its Stillwater campus, with students from all 50 states and 118 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.

Web site: OSUgiving.com

Contact: Jim Berscheidt
Phone: 405.338.5117
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Oklahoma State University Foundation