By
Ralph Derickson
UK already has received gifts,
contribution commitments and pledges totaling $318,054,449, more than half the campaign
goal.
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Sept.
15, 2000 – (Lexington, Ky.) – The
University of Kentucky today announced a goal of $600 million for its first-ever
comprehensive fund-raising campaign and the most ambitious fund-raising effort in the
history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The campaign, known by the title " A Call To
Greatness," continues through June 30, 2003. University
of Kentucky President Charles T. Wethington Jr., campaign National Chair James W. Stuckert
of Louisville and UK's Chief Development Officer Terry Mobley reported that UK already has
received gifts, contribution commitments and pledges totaling $318,054,449, more than half
the campaign goal.
The
much-anticipated announcement from the university came in a campaign kick-off celebration
attended by many of UK's alumni, friends and donors, as well as UK students, faculty and
staff.
President
Wethington said the campaign funds would permit UK to make a major "investment in
people -- the students, faculty and staff who will take this university to the level of a
top-20 public research institution by the year 2020. "
Speaking
to the crowd of UK supporters, Stuckert said, "This is a Kentucky day. Not just for the University of Kentucky, but for
the people of Kentucky. We will reach our
goal, and we need everyone to give and give generously."
Mobley
said some of the money raised during the campaign will be used for capital projects
including buildings and equipment, but the great majority will help bolster the
university's endowment and investment in people.
"The
impact of this extraordinary fund-raising effort will be felt throughout the university
and across Kentucky," Mobley said.
Today's
announcement was a central event in a weekend of special events focusing on the Campaign
for the University of Kentucky and the academic programs the fund-raising effort would
support.
Following
the announcement of the campaign goal, all the colleges of the UK campus, including those
in the Albert B. Chandler Medical Center, opened their doors to the public to present
academic showcases spotlighting their scholastic expertise.
Many
of the showcases, featuring everything from demonstrations of magnetic resonance imaging
to the sermons of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., were to remain open for
public viewing on Saturday.
Yesterday,
UK students, faculty and staff gathered in the botanical gardens near the UK student
center for a rallying picnic in support of the campaign.
A
musical spectacular featuring "The Ladies of Note," jazz singers Lainie Kazan,
Melba Moore and Nnenna Freelon in their premiere performance together, continued the UK
festivities Thursday evening.
A
Campaign Gala and Fellows Dinner at which this year's UK Fellows take center stage will be
held tonight in Rupp Arena. UK Fellows are
persons who have contributed $10, 000 or more to the university.
Saturday,
UK plays Indiana in Commonwealth Stadium, an annual rivalry that fills the
68,000-plus-seat stadium. A special halftime
show is planned as a part of the celebration.
Festivities continue Sunday as the UK Art Museum in the Singletary Center
for the Arts begins a yearlong celebration of its
25th anniversary in a 2 p.m. "Director's Forum." A UK Symphony Orchestra Concert
is set to start at 3 p.m. in the Singletary Center
for the Arts.
Both events are free and open to the public.
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