UA’s “Our Students. Our Future.” Campaign Reaches $428 Million

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama announced today that the “Our Students. Our Future.” Campaign has reached the $428 million mark, pushing it to more than 80 percent of its total goal. The campaign’s $500 million goal focuses on $250 million to support student scholarships, with the rest of the funds allocated for faculty support, campus facilities and priority needs.

More than $170 million has been raised in support of scholarships. To date, $75 million of that total has been given to support 265 new endowed scholarships. The University has received 87 gifts of $1 million or more and more than 100 gifts of $500,000 or more. There have been nearly 100,000 gifts made to the campaign, which will close in June 2009.

“We have had great success in our ability to recruit the best and brightest students thanks to the many who have so generously supported scholarships,” said UA President Robert. E. Witt. “As the University grows, the need for scholarships becomes more important and we are confident that we can count on The University of Alabama family to make sure we reach our goal.”

UA faculty, staff and students have also contributed more than $7 million toward the campaign’s vision. The majority of the donations went into the general scholarship fund, but employees were able to designate their gifts to specific scholarship categories or other University efforts. Student contributions created 13 scholarships for students who were the first in their family to attend college.

As UA enters the final phase of the campaign, there will be numerous outreach events and activities to increase participation in the campaign. The National Alumni Association has partnered with the University and will be promoting participation in the campaign at alumni chapter events and meetings. During the next 18 months, UA will also be asking all friends and alumni to participate in the scholarship initiative.

“Our Students. Our Future.” is led by a 60-member national steering committee co-chaired by James P. Hayes Jr. of Birmingham, Carl and Ann Jones of Birmingham and Kemmons Wilson Jr. of Memphis, Tenn. The campaign co-chairs have each made significant lead gifts to the campaign.

The University’s last capital campaign concluded in 1998, raising $224 million.