FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 10, 2003
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153

Marshall Campaign more than halfway to goal

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall University’s Campaign for National Prominence, the fundraising effort which began its public phase in September 2002, has exceeded the halfway point, according to H. Keith Spears, Marshall’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and one of the campaign directors.

Currently, gifts and pledges to the campaign total $52,913,000, more than halfway to the goal of $100 million, Spears said.

“We’ve had a substantial outpouring of individuals who want to help Marshall University reach its Campaign goal of $100 million,” Spears said. “We’re very pleased with the progress we are making. We are on target.”

Spears said several individuals have made “significant commitments” to the Campaign in recent weeks and months. Among those are Marshall alumni Selby and Donna Wellman. Selby Wellman is retired after working more than 30 years in technology with IBM, Paradyne, FiberCom and Cisco Systems, where he was senior Vice President.

“The national profile that Selby and Donna Wellman hold personifies the legacy of the sons and daughters of Marshall University,” Spears said. “We look forward to having their names on our Pathway to Prominence.”

The Pathway is an area located on campus between Old Main and the Memorial Student Center. It is dedicated to those who have given at least $1 million to Marshall.

Marshall President Dan Angel said he is pleased with the Campaign’s progress.

“We are a little ahead of where we’d hoped to be at this point,” Angel said. “At this rate, we are excited about meeting or exceeding our goal of $100 million by the end of 2005.”

Marshall has identified five particular areas of need for the campaign. They include:
  • Student support, including undergraduate scholarships, Yeager Scholars, John Marshall and Erma Byrd Scholars, graduate and medical scholarships and multicultural scholarships.
  • Faculty support, including research, development, distinguished professors and chairs and lectureships.
  • Program support, including the Autism Training Center, the Harless Center for Rural Education, the H.E.L.P. Program, the Child Development Academy, the Year of the Book Endowment and the Financial Trading Research Center.
  • Facilities, including the Biotechnology Science Center, the Erickson Alumni Center, the Visual Arts Center, “Smart” classrooms and athletic facilities.
  • Enhanced student experience, including athletics, student activities, music and the arts, and the Health and Wellness Center.
“This campaign will enable us to take Marshall University to the next level,” said Tim Haymaker, national chairman of the campaign and a Marshall alumnus. “Marshall has great momentum and it needs the support of everyone who believes in the importance of higher education.”

All gifts to Marshall will be counted towards the overall campaign goal. Gifts should be made to the Marshall University Foundation, the Big Green Foundation or the Marshall University Graduate College Foundation, and be mailed to Development Office, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755.

Other gifts, such as securities, real and/or personal property, life insurance and trusts and annuities, will be accepted. For more information on the different methods of giving to the Campaign, persons may contact the MU Development Office at (304) 696-6214, or visit the campaign Web site at www.mucampaign.com.
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