|
 “Two years ago we launched the public phase of our
Campaign for Lincoln College with a highly ambitious goal of
generating $8 million to jumpstart our transition to a full
four-year degree granting college. Thanks to the generosity of more
than 2,400 donors, we’ve now raised $9.6 million,” said Lincoln
College President David Gerlach.
Lincoln College surpassed its goal a year earlier than originally
anticipated. To celebrate the conclusion of the campaign, Lincoln
College held a reception on campus July 25, just three days shy of
the two year anniversary of the public kickoff of the campaign.
“This would not have happened without the support of our alumni, our
friends and the Lincoln and Logan County community,” Campaign Chair
John Blackburn said. “But, we won’t be resting on our laurels. We
must keep the momentum growing to assure that Lincoln College can
meet the demand for high quality, affordable education for a diverse
audience.”
“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the positive response we
received since launching the campaign. I can’t thank our alumni,
friends, and employees enough,” said Debbie Ackerman, Vice-President
for Institutional Advancement at Lincoln College. “The College
received four gifts at the million-dollar level and many gifts of
$25,000 or more. At the same time, we are particularly gratified by
the large number of smaller gifts and first-time donors, which
demonstrates the significant grassroots support that we have among
alumni, friends and the local community.”
Ackerman said that more than 2,000 individuals and 350 organizations
contributed to the success of this campaign. She said the College
was particularly pleased with the overwhelming support directed to
the unrestricted LINCOLN Fund.
“Our goal for the LINCOLN Fund was $1.9 million and we received $4.1
million in contributions during this campaign thanks to the
wonderful generosity of our donors,” Ackerman said. “Because LINCOLN
Fund contributions are unrestricted, they represent a vote of
confidence by our benefactors in our vision and mission. By choosing
to invest in extraordinary ways these donors are, in effect, saying
that they trust the College administration to select the best use of
their gifts. We take that very seriously and are humbled by their
trust in us.”
Ackerman also noted that the Campaign for Lincoln College won strong
support even as other major fundraising activities at Lincoln
College have grown.
“The annual Grand Soirée, which is the main fundraising event for
the our nationally recognized Lincoln Heritage Museum has been a
fantastic success thanks to the exemplary work of the Soirée
committee and our annual golf outing for athletics sold out again
this year,” Ackerman said.
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Highlights of the Campaign for Lincoln College have
included:
-
Raising $1.7 million for scholarship support for
students; 60 total scholarships including 31 newly-funded
scholarships;
-
Launching the MacKinnon School of Business;
-
Opening a state-of-the-art television and new
media studio;
-
Converting blighted apartments adjacent to campus
into high quality student housing;
-
Renovations that show significant progress in
returning University Hall to its full glory;
-
Accepting the transfer of the former St. Clara’s
manor for conversion into student housing and multi-use space to
accommodate additional growth;
-
Raising an estimated $5-$6 million in bequests or
other planned gift arrangements that will benefit Lincoln
College in the future;
-
New facilities and features at the Creekside
Center for Environmental Education, including an accessible
boardwalk, interpretive displays and new groundwater monitoring
equipment that will aid in student research directly benefitting
the ag industry; and
-
Installation of new equipment at the Johnston
Center for the Arts to enable Contemporary Jazz Studies students
to learn sound recording and mixing skills and record and
produce their own original compositions.
“It’s been an amazing time of growth for Lincoln
College,” Gerlach added. “During the time of the campaign, we have
expanded our degree offerings to 12 full bachelor’s degree programs
and are on the verge of adding master’s degrees to our curriculum.
The federal government awarded us a Title III grant to expand our
capacity to offer quality educational opportunities to underserved
populations. And, this fall we will be welcoming our first class of
visiting scholars from China.
“We’ve drawn record numbers of area students. We continue to attract
quality students from the Chicago area and are proving that we offer
an attractive option for students from Springfield,
Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Decatur and the rest of Central
Illinois,” Gerlach said.
“In addition, our innovative adult program, Accelerated Bridge to
Education, has expanded to our main campus and is helping working
adults gain the education they need to break through the glass
ceiling,” Gerlach added. “Now, to keep attracting and growing our
student body we must continue to ask the support of our friends and
alumni and continue to grow our base of support from individuals,
corporate sponsorships and non-profit organizations.”
[Mark Gordon
Public Relations and Media Manager
Lincoln College] |
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