The Board of Trustees voted Friday, Oct. 6, to raise the goal for the Campaign for Washington University from $1 billion to $1.3 billion. The campaign was launched publicly in September 1998 and is scheduled to run until June 30, 2004.
According to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, commitments raised now total $929.4 million. In making the announcement, Wrighton praised the alumni, friends, parents, faculty and staff who have responded so generously to the needs identified in the University's comprehensive planning initiative known as Project 21, which set forth more than $1.5 billion in priorities key to the University's future.
The goal increase was proposed to the Trustees by Development Committee Chair Lee M. Liberman, chairman emeritus of Laclede Gas Co., and Board Vice Chair Sam Fox, chairman and chief executive officer of Harbour Group Ltd. and chair of the campaign's public phase. In his remarks, Fox noted that several priorities are key to increasing the campaign goal --endowment for professorships and scholarships, support for academic programs, completion of new and renovated facilities and greater unrestricted annual support.
The Trustees approved the increase unanimously. An expanded article about the campaign will appear in a subsequent issue of the Record.