Oklahoma State University campaign tops $900 million on its way to $1 billion goal

New major gifts help push total for 2011-12 to $157.3 million

STILLWATER, Okla., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University has raised $906.1 million and attracted support from 77,621 donors as the campaign's tremendous momentum continues to push the University closer to its goal of raising $1 billion. The campaign has created 853 new scholarships and 133 new endowed faculty positions.

For the one-year period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, the University received support totaling $157.3 million, which far exceeded the goal of $120 million, according to a report from the OSU Foundation.

"Achieving these fundraising milestones demonstrates that our alumni and friends are committed to strengthening our academic and athletic programs and making OSU one of the premier land-grant institutions in the nation," said Oklahoma State President Burns Hargis. "I'm particularly pleased that we are attracting support from longtime OSU faithful and new donors who have become engaged through the Branding Success campaign."

The latest campaign total includes the following recent gifts:

• Chuck and Kim Watson – The Watson's recent gift of cash, pledges and an estate commitment, when combined with matching gifts, will have a total impact of $36 million. The gift will help build the new home for the Spears School of Business and create the Watson Graduate School of Management in honor of the OSU alumni (pending final approval from the University and OSU Regents).
• Malone 3rd and Amy Mitchell – The Mitchells recently committed $7.5 million to create the new home for the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship and office space for the School of Entrepreneurship in the new building for the Spears School of Business.
• Norman and Suzanne Myers – The Myers recently committed $1 million to name the dean's suite in the new building for the Spears School of Business. Both are OSU alumni.

"Not only are we well on the way to securing the private funding necessary to construct a new building for the Spears School of Business thanks to support from our alumni, but the Watson's gift also strengthens our academic programs, which will keep us competitive," said Larry Crosby, dean of the Spears School of Business. Crosby says nearly half of the $60 million in private funding for the new building has been raised.

The Branding Success campaign is transforming OSU through the addition of significant resources in four areas.

Student Support:  Goal−$500 million; Raised−$452.1 million

• Secure an unprecedented level of student scholarship support, inviting students to dream big, work hard and exceed expectations through life-changing opportunities

Faculty Support: Goal−$200 million; Raised−$184.8 million

• More than double the number of endowed professorships and chairs, securing OSU's ability to retain and recruit the best faculty

Facility Support: Goal−$200 million; Raised−$178.3 million

• Equip students and faculty with advanced facilities essential to community building and discovery in the 21st century

Program Support: Goal−$100 million; Raised−$90.9 million

• Invest in academic excellence with innovative, interdisciplinary programs that make the most of OSU's considerable strengths

"Our sustained momentum is incredible! The effort becomes even more critical as we push to meet and then exceed the $1 billion goal," said Kirk Jewell, president of the OSU Foundation. "This campaign is not about raising $1 billion; it is about the tremendous difference being made today, and also creating an even stronger university and impact in the future."

OSU's fundraising campaign, the largest in its history and the largest comprehensive higher education campaign in Oklahoma history, was publicly announced in February 2010 and will continue until December 2014.

For more information about Branding Success: The Campaign for Oklahoma State University, please visit http://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.

Contact: Jim Berscheidt
Phone: 405.338.5117
Email: [email protected]
Website: OSUgiving.com

SOURCE Oklahoma State University Foundation