Celebrating Campaign Success
Story by Jill Spotz, photos by Clay Wegrzynowicz
Farinon College Center was bustling yesterday as faculty, staff, and students celebrated the conclusion of the Live Connected, Lead Change campaign. Bright skies and rising temperatures matched smiles and laughter during the event, which featured a DJ, photo booth, multiple food stations, ice carving, and an outdoor hot cocoa station. In addition, more than 1,700 Lafayette scarves were distributed to members of the campus community.
Lafayette concluded the historic campaign on Dec. 31 and surpassed the $400 million goal. In total, $425,070,407 was raised to support financial aid and scholarships, endowed faculty positions, programs, enhancements to the campus, and more. The campaign was made possible by 27,309 donors and 5,774 volunteers. President Alison Byerly sent a video invitation as an opportunity to thank the campus community for the role it played in the campaign’s success.
“We couldn’t have done it without the dedication and support of you, our faculty, staff, and students,” said Byerly in the video. “Many of you attended campaign events, participated in videos to promote the President’s Challenge, met with donors, talked with visitors, or contributed financially. I am personally very grateful for your generosity and support.”
Key accomplishments of the Live Connected, Lead Change campaign include:
- Raising more than $85 million for financial aid
- Creating 195 new endowed scholarships
- Transforming the campus through construction or renovation of 26 spaces and buildings including the Oechsle Center for Global Education and soon-to-open Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center.
- Establishing the Bradbury Dyer III ’64 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Daniel and Heidi ’91 Hanson Center for Inclusive Stem Education.
- Establishing 17 endowed faculty positions.
- Solidifying the College’s commitment to the arts through creation of the Williams Arts Campus, which offers facilities for theater, studio and performing arts, and film and media studies.
- Raising $31 million to support engineering through the engineering challenge, which was inspired by an $8.5 million anonymous gift.
- Raising significant funds for athletics including establishment of the Fred M. Kirby II ’42 Head Football Coach endowment, renovations to athletic facilities, creation of Oaks Leadership Academy, and establishment of the Leopard Champions Fund to support athletic scholarships.
For more information on the impact of the Live Connected, Lead Change campaign, visit liveconnected.lafayette.edu.