For the first time in its history, the University of North Carolina Wilmington received more than $13.8 million in philanthropic support during a single fiscal year, including several million-dollar contributions to endow scholarships and professorships and to enhance academic, athletic and other campus programs.
Of the total, donors gave more than $10.2 million in outright gifts such as cash and stocks, setting another fundraising record for the university. Donors have pledged to give the university the remaining amount within a set timeframe, such as three years. In 2006-07, gifts and pledges to UNC Wilmington totaled approximately $9.7 million.
"Alumni, friends, corporations, foundations and other donors support UNCW because the university focuses on what's important – educating students and enriching the quality of life in southeastern North Carolina," said John A. "Sandy" McNeill Jr., chair of the UNCW Board of Trustees.
The 2007-08 fiscal year began July 1, 2007, and ended June 30, 2008. The million dollar donations, in the form of outright gifts or pledges, support several UNCW initiatives, including student, academic and faculty excellence.
Academic and student excellence
The university received a $1 million endowment, created by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, to support scholarships for music students and provide funds for other music department expenses, such as recruiting guest artists and maintaining performance and practice spaces. The university named the Beckwith Recital Hall, the state-of-the-art music performance venue in the Cultural Arts Building, in recognition of the gift.
Alumni Herb and Sylvia Fisher, and their three children, created a $1 million endowment to support programs and services in the Fisher University Union, a newly renovated building in the heart of campus. It is connected to the Fisher Student Center, for which the couple provided a $2 million support endowment in 2006.
The university received a $1 million gift from Fred Eshelman, president and CEO of PPD, Inc., to help the athletics department initiate plans for a new academic center to serve student-athletes.
Faculty excellence
The university received the Thomas S. Kenan III Distinguished Professorship of Jazz, funded with a $667,000 gift from the C.D. Spangler Foundation of Charlotte, N.C., and a $333,000 match from the state. It is the first music department professorship to be endowed at $1 million, and was used to recruit Joe Chambers, an internationally known jazz drummer, composer and educator.
Philanthropist Irwin "Ike" Belk established a distinguished professorship to recruit and retain outstanding faculty for the School of Nursing. He provided a major gift, enabling the university to receive matching funds from the Spangler Foundation and the state to endow the Irwin "Ike" Belk Distinguished Professorship at $1 million.
"Our donors continue to impress me with their steadfast dedication to helping UNCW soar to new heights," Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said. "They share our commitment to providing students with the most powerful learning experience possible. On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I thank all of our donors for their generosity."
Donations to UNCW increased in many areas. Contributions from corporations and foundations went up 19 percent, with the university receiving more than $3.2 million for a variety of academic, research and community outreach programs. The annual phonathon, conducted by student callers, raised more than $486,000 in gifts and pledges, a 6 percent increase over the previous year.
Donors created 40 new scholarships during the past fiscal year, 16 of which are endowed for a total value of more than $1 million. Of the new scholarships, 33 will be awarded on the basis of merit. Donors also established four new scholarships for student-athletes and created three need-based scholarships.
Contributions from students and their parents also dramatically increased. Nearly 3,000 parents contributed more than $882,000, a 146 percent increase in the amount of parent support compared to last year. Around 400 students raised almost $12,000 for the Class of 2008 gift – a saltwater aquarium located in Randall Library – as well as academic programs, student organizations and other campus activities.
"The generous support UNCW receives from all donors, regardless of the amount of their gifts, enhances every activity on campus – helping us recruit and retain outstanding faculty, maintain buildings and buy new equipment to fund research efforts, and provide scholarships and study abroad opportunities for students," said Mary M. Gornto, vice chancellor for university advancement.
Media contacts:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu
Andrea Weaver, marketing and communications, 910.962.7631 or weavera@uncw.edu
