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Inside Furman is published monthly during the school year by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Furman extends comprehensive
campaign
New goal to be announced this fall
When Furman publicly launched the Forever Furman comprehensive campaign in April 1999, there was little doubt among trustees, volunteers and development personnel that the university could achieve the campaign goal of $150 million.
The most optimistic of them even suggested the fund-raising drive could raise $175 million. But even more?
"Not in our wildest dreams," says Don Lineback, Vice President for Development.
But giving among all Furman constituents - alumni, faculty, staff and volunteers - is surpassing all expectations. And the bequest by the late John D. Hollingsworth, announced early this year, helped energize the campaign and sparked additional contributions. The bequest is not yet counted in the campaign. No one knows the amount, and it may not be known for another year or more.
Two months ago, the board of trustees voted for the second time to raise the campaign goal. The group also approved an extension of the fund-raising drive by one year, to December 2002. In May 2000 the trustees voted to raise the campaign goal to $175 million. Lineback says a new goal will announced this fall, with a completion date of December 2002.
"When the history of Furman's volunteer efforts is written, 2000-2001 will be recorded as a watershed year," he says. "These volunteers are also carrying the Forever Furman campaign to an important milestone as we celebrate an important year."
Highlights of the record-breaking 2000-2001 year include:
o Faculty and staff giving reached record highs in amount and percentage of participation.
o Alumni participation reached 50 percent for the fourth year in a row.
o Lige Hicks led the Class of 1941 to a level of support never before achieved: 100 percent giving by his class of 100 members.
o Trustee Gordon Herring and his wife, Sarah Weaver Herring, committed $4.25 million to the Forever Furman campaign, bringing their total campaign commitment to more than $10 million.
o In the wake of the announcement of the bequest from Hollingsworth, who left Furman 45 percent of his multimillion-dollar estate, more than 20 groups of supporters and volunteers, from the Board of Trustees to the Housing Staff, reached 100 percent in gift participation. The previous high was 15.
o In the second half of the 2000-2001 fiscal year, more than $35 million in new commitments were made to Furman, compared with an average of $28 million per year in each of the previous five years.
The new campaign goal will help complete the funding for several building projects, including the expansion and renovation of James B. Duke Library; the completion of Herman N. Hipp Hall and the Bryan Center for Military Science; and the renovation of James C. Furman Hall, the university's oldest classroom building.