Centre fund-raising campaign tops $119 million

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College's Campaign for A More Perfect Centre has exceeded $119 million in gifts and pledges toward its goal of $120 million. As of June 1, total commitments to the Campaign stood at $119,089,046.

Publicly announced in January 2004, the Campaign for A More Perfect Centre is the largest fundraising effort in Centre's history, with a goal twice that of the Front and Centre campaign, the College's most recent capital campaign, which concluded in 1997.

"When the Campaign for A More Perfect Centre began, I had no doubt that we would succeed. But the response of Centre alumni and friends has been overwhelming," says Campaign chair Randy Kell '69.

Centre President John A. Roush adds, "I'm an incurable optimist, but these results have exceeded even my high expectations. The success of the Campaign to date is another indication that Centre is on the move."

The Campaign's $120 million goal includes $80 million in outright gifts:

• $35 million in new endowment for student financial aid and scholarships
• $14 million in new endowment for faculty support
• $8 million in new endowment for the initiatives of the New Horizons Fund
• $15 million for the Capital Improvements Fund and
• $8 million for Current Operations

The Campaign also set a goal of $40 million in deferred gifts; total deferred gift commitments to the Campaign now exceed $46 million.

While the Campaign has made extraordinary progress toward its overall goal, much work remains to be done. "It's true we are less than $1 million away from our $120 million goal, but we are well away from meeting some of the most important initiatives of the Campaign," says Richard Trollinger, vice president for College relations. "For example, we are still over $9.5 million away from our goal for new endowment for student financial aid and scholarships, and almost $2.5 million short of the goal for faculty support. As gratified as I am by the results so far, I won't count the Campaign as a complete success until we meet these and other important needs. In fact, we still need to raise just over $20 million to fund all of the Campaign's objectives."

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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