KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee’s 21st Century Campaign has raised approximately $360 million — $110 million over its original goal, UT President Joe Johnson said Wednesday.
UT-Knoxville’s current total is $201 million, which is $26 million over its goal. The Institute of Agriculture is nearly $4 million ahead of its $24 million target, and the UT Medical Center at Knoxville has passed its goal and is at $18.8 million.
The Institute for Public Service, the first UT unit to reach its goal, is at $3.4 million.
“We’ve averaged about $1.5 million per week in gifts and pledges so far,” William B. Stokely III, the campaign’s national chairman, said. “That’s a remarkable accomplishment and a remarkable statement about the confidence people have in the University of Tennessee and in the work Dr. Joe Johnson, his staff and our volunteer leaders are doing.”
In one 10-day period this summer, UT received pledges and gifts of $10 million, Johnson said. Sixty-nine gifts and pledges of more than $1 million have been received.
“The University of Tennessee exists to serve the people of this state,” Johnson said. “The success of this campaign will allow us to serve Tennesseans more effectively and will provide additional opportunities for talented students and dedicated faculty.”
Johnson said in the final seven months of the campaign volunteers and the development staff are focusing on a phone solicitation of alumni and on following up calls to potential donors who are considering proposals for gifts to the campaign.
“Gifts to this campaign are being used to provide scholarships to Tennessee’s top students, recruit and keep outstanding faculty, and improve the academic programs,” Dr. Bill Snyder, UT-Knoxville chancellor, said. “Jim Haslam, who is leading the UT-Knoxville phase of the campaign, the volunteers who are working with him, and development staff have worked hard and done a great job.”
UT announced in October 1994 its plan to raise $250 million by June 30, 1998. The goal was raised to $308 million in the summer of 1996.
The 21st Century Campaign is UT’s second university-wide fund drive. The first, Tennessee Tomorrow, was a three-year effort ending in 1980. It raised $57 million on a goal of $35 million.
The development staff and volunteers will call as many of UT’s more than 230,000 alumni as possible before the campaign ends June 30, 1998.
“This is the ‘friend-raising’ phase. While we will probably receive some additional gifts from businesses and corporations, our focus now is to reach our alumni and friends,” Johnson said.
More than 90,000 individuals and firms will have made gifts and pledges during the campaign. Funds endowed for UT will total more than $500 million when the campaign ends, Johnson said.
“A major goal of this effort was to increase our endowment,” Johnson said. “Partly as a result of the 21st Century Campaign, the University of Tennessee will be among the top public universities in the South in endowed funds.”
UT endowed funds have more than doubled from the $210 million in 1990, he said.
Other UT campus and unit totals and their goals:
* UT-Chattanooga – $28.5 million ($20 million)
* UT-Martin – $12.1 million ($11 million)
* UT-Memphis – $65.3 million ($55 million)
* UT Space Institute – $2.1 million ($2 million)
* Other – $6.2 million
Because the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is part of the Institute of Agriculture and UT-Knoxville, gifts to the college are included in campus and institute totals. These gifts are counted only once in the overall campaign total.
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Contact: John Sheridan, Campaign Director (423-974-2115) Jack Williams (423-974-4531)