During
the campaign, West Virginia Wesleyan College raised $46.4 million from
more than 8,000 donors, 45% above the College’s original goal. Eleven
gifts over $1 million set a new record for fundraising. Prior to the campaign,
only one gift over $1 million had been donated in the history of the College.
“Significant commitments were very important to the final outcome
with 17 donors giving 55% of the total campaign dollars,” expressed
Wesleyan President William R. Haden. “However, it is noteworthy
that many individuals supported this campaign. A total of $6.2 million
was received from donors who contributed less than $10,000.” Alumni
demonstrated their support with a 40% participation rate and faculty and
staff exhibited their support with 224 donors giving over $800,000.
Wesleyan announced the successful end to the multi-year campaign on Tuesday,
March 1, at the President’s Convocation. During the event, President
Haden shared stories about a few of the special individuals who took the
opportunity to make a difference for our College. President Haden remarked,
“If I were to consider a title for our report this morning, the
words “gratitude and success” would be appropriate. Both express
the appreciation we have for our donors who have shown confidence in the
College and its future.” The stories President Haden shared appear
below:
- The late Helen Hall, class of ’35, grew up
across the street from campus. After attending Wesleyan, she taught
business classes at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. Helen lived modestly
indulging in occasional travel. She always stayed close to and informed
about her alma mater. A few years before her death, she gave her family
home to the College which now houses the College Communication office.
When she passed away last year, the College was informed Helen left
the majority of her estate to Wesleyan; totaling well over $1 million.
Her legacy will assist students from Upshur County in pursuing a Wesleyan
education.
- Every month since the late 1980s, Dr. James Cox,
class of 1940, and his wife Alma Tenney Cox, class of 1946, have sent
a check to the College. These Ft. Worth, Texas residences have faithfully
supported their alma mater to make available endowed scholarship funds
for our students. They have lived modestly and shared generously.
Over their lives, they have created a dozen scholarships to honor
various members of their family. During this campaign the Cox’s
monthly checks have created four separate endowed scholarships.
- The College is fortunate to benefit from the lights
on the soccer field because of the extraordinary efforts of men’s
soccer coach Gavin Donaldson and his efforts to encourage alumni,
soccer parents and local businesses and friends to provide the support.
This was an effort by many that, in a short period of time, came together
because of Gavin’s persistence.
- There are many groups that have joined together to
make a significant difference for the College. One of the first was
the Emeritus Club. The members of this alumni group have the distinction
of graduating at least 50 or more years ago. At the public campaign
kick off in October of 2000, Emeritus Club members announced their
commitment to raise $250,000 to name the lobby of the Virginia Thomas
Law Center for the Performing Arts. Through the leadership and dedication
of Harold Elmore, the Emeritus Club Coordinator, Club members have
been encouraged and reminded of this commitment. The Emeritus Club
is within $5,500 of securing this total.
- Datha Smith and her late husband Gene spent many
summer days on Wesleyan’s campus during the United Methodist
Conference and Summer Youth Celebration. Much time was spent in Wesley
Chapel over the years and these Fairmont natives understood how the
Chapel was the symbolic heart of the College and the home of the Conference.
Their son in-law and granddaughter both graduated from Wesleyan. In
retirement, they moved to Vero Beach, FL, but remained close to their
native home. To honor their United Methodist ties and personal connections
to the College, the Smith’s chose to create a $250,000 endowment
for maintenance of Wesley Chapel. This endowment makes Wesley Chapel
only the second building on our campus to benefit from a permanent
maintenance fund.
- When the campaign video was created and various alumni
were interviewed about their memories and connections to the College,
trustee Al Moyé, Class of 1960, spoke about how his chemistry
professor, Dr. John Wright ’48, made a difference in his life.
Since that time, Al had talked on many occasions on how the College
might honor Dr. Wright. In the late 1950s, Dr. Wright had returned
to Wesleyan to teach after the death of long-time chemistry professor
Nicholas Hyma. He ably came to fill the void and made sure that Wesleyan’s
reputation for excellence in the sciences was maintained. Al reached
out to his former classmates and encouraged a small group to help
raise $250,000 to name a laboratory in the planned addition to Christopher
Hall of Science. Al didn’t immediately go just to individuals
who were already supporting the College. He contacted classmates who,
in some cases, had never made a gift. Clearly, Al touched an important
connection. Several significant pledges were made immediately. And,
when Dr. Wright was alerted that his former students were honoring
him in this way, he responded by asking how he could help. This group
of early 1960s alumni has already raised over $78,000 toward their
goal and they continue to involve and encourage other alumni to follow
their footsteps and bring recognition to a teacher who made a difference
in their lives.
- Sisters Nelle McLaughlin and Kathryn McLaughlin grew
up in Buckhannon and attended Wesleyan in the early 1920s to pursue
teaching degrees. Nelle was a chemistry major (unique for her era
of women) and Kathryn was seeking a degree in English. They graduated
in 1923, moved to Pittsburgh and taught in their chosen disciplines
for many years. The sisters spent many summers back in Buckhannon
and maintained their interest in and their relationship with Wesleyan.
Nelle and Kathryn chose ultimately to leave their estate of nearly
$2 million to the College. Today, the Nelle V. and M. Kathryn McLaughlin
Scholarship Fund provides annually six $15,000 scholarships for students
studying chemistry or English.
- Tom Dunn ’64, and his wife Carol Campbell Dunn
’63, made a commitment early in the campaign to name the lobby
court of the Performing Arts Center. As time passed and it became
clear a local fundraising effort was needed, Tom volunteered to lead
that effort. Seeing an opportunity to involve the fraternities and
sororities in the effort, Tom and Carol also turned over the lobby
court for them to name. In addition they increased their personal
gift commitment, naming the lighting in the new center. Tom has been
instrumental in encouraging many individuals, as well as local and
regional businesses, to support the Performing Arts Center. He continues
to work to help us finish fundraising for the last $1 million needed
to complete the building. The Alumni All Greek Council, with alumni
representatives from each fraternity and sorority, committed to name
the lobby court and raise $160,000 for the Performing Arts Center.
Each organization is soliciting its own members to complete a portion
of this pledge.
- A few of our donors started out making a significant
gift to the College and, by the end of the campaign, ended up making
an extraordinary one. Alumnus Bill Norman ’60 falls into this
category. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Bill committed early
to establish an endowed scholarship with a $50,000 pledge. His interest
was to support students who demonstrate high achievement or leadership
skills and who would enhance and contribute to the diversity of West
Virginia Wesleyan College. Special consideration would be given to
minorities, out of state students, and individuals from non-traditional
backgrounds. At the various Board meetings, campaign updates were
given and a variety of gift options that donors were using were discussed.
After learning that estate gifts could be counted toward the campaign
total if the donor was at least 65 years old, Bill waited patiently
until this birthday came to pass. On June 30, 2003, he phoned the
Advancement Office to notify them that he had designated $1 million
of his estate for the benefit of the College.
- Supporting the College has been a long tradition
for the Culpepper family. It began with alumni couple Olive and Ross
Culpepper in the early 1930s and continues today through their son
Marvin and his wife Elaine. Nine permanent scholarships have been
established by the Culpeppers; five of them during this campaign by
Marvin and Elaine. Their scholarships support international students,
history, music, nursing, academic achievement and athletics. The Culpeppers
also spread their support to ongoing activities and programs including
the library, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s
and women’s soccer, baseball, and music. Hundreds of books and
material on the civil war and military history have been given to
the library. The Culpepper name is truly a legacy of Wesleyan support.
During
the campaign, $20.1 million was raised in endowed and current scholarships,
$13.1 million for facilities, $7.2 million for the current unrestricted
budget, $3.4 million for academic programs, $1 million for student life
programs and $700,000 for technology.
“Through this campaign, our donors have established a momentum
which has brought fundraising at Wesleyan to a new level,” stated
Peggy J. Cooning, Vice President for Advancement. “We are very
thankful to our alumni and friends who have been so faithful and generous
with their support. By any measure, this has been a wonderfully successful
capital campaign.” Cooning also expressed appreciation for the
campaign’s steering committee chaired by alumnus William E. Watson
’58 of Wellsburg, WV, and the leadership of President Haden, as
well as the efforts of the College’s advancement staff.
The College announced the “Heart of West Virginia Wesleyan
College: Enduring Values . . . Transforming Lives” capital
campaign in October 2000 as a $32 million effort. In the spring of 2002,
campaign totals showed the endeavor to be one year ahead of projection.
On the recommendation of the Campaign Steering Committee, the Board
of Trustees approved increasing the overall goal to $40 million and
extending the ending date from June 30, 2004 to December 31, 2004. |
Campaign
Concludes with Record Total of $46.4 Million