Georgia Southern fundraising campaign exceeds goal; $53-million to provide “margin of excellence”

December 2, 2006

Georgia Southern University’s Centennial year started with a bang Friday as the university announced that it surpassed the goal of its first comprehensive capital campaign.

President Bruce Grube released the final total of $53,051,156 raised during the five-year Campaign for National Distinction. The campaign’s goal had been set at $40 million.

“I am enormously grateful for the efforts of the many friends of Georgia Southern that have brought us to the successful conclusion of the campaign,” said Grube. ‘With the resounding success of The Campaign for National Distinction, Georgia Southern is well-positioned to enter its second century of service to the region, the state, and the nation.”

Campaign Coordinator and Vice President for University Advancement Billy Griffis noted that the dollars raised significantly add to the funds provided by the state.

‘We are grateful for our strong, positive relationships in Atlanta. With them comes the expectation that Georgia Southern will do its part to supplement the support the state provides,” Griffis said.

‘This successful campaign gives Georgia Southern the margin of excellence to move ahead in our objective of national distinction,” Griffis added.

The Campaign for National Distinction focused on six strategic themes of importance in the ongoing development of the University: academic distinction, student-centered university, technological advancement, transcultural opportunities, public/private partnerships, and physical environment.

Gifts to the campaign will help fund numerous programs and projects, including scholarship endowments, eminent scholar chairs, graduate assistantships and fellowships, athletics facilities, technology modernization, and the Alumni House and Welcome Center.

‘Our national campaign consultant advised that $40 million might have been even a bit ambitious as the goal for our first comprehensive campaign,” President Grube noted. ‘That makes the outcome all the more gratifying.”

He also said that the university’s recent reclassification as a national doctoral-research university will boost its potential for impact in the Coastal Southeast and beyond.

‘Georgia Southern University stands alone in its capabilities to serve the state. The results of the capital campaign are an affirmation of our successes, as well as the trust so many donors have invested in our future,” Grube said.

The president also called the campaign results an ‘excellent way to kick off Georgia Southern’s Centennial.”

‘This institution began because of the incredibly deep commitment of this community. The campaign illustrates that the commitment has been successfully passed through the generations, and that the community of people who believe in what Georgia Southern is, and can become, continues to grow. This coming year of Centennial celebration will give us all a chance to reflect on our rich history, and look forward to great days ahead,” Grube said.