Columns:: UGA receives more than $54 million in new gifts, pledges

since 12/15/98

Columns::August 20, 2001

Consultants: Pay and classification system should be revamped
Collaborative effort begins
Montana administrator chosen to lead UGA’s international programs
Moving experience
Campus Closeup
New assistant dean named for Tifton ag and environmental sciences
Kudos
Great universities require great faculty leadership
Newsworthy

Campus News

UGA receives more than $54 million in new gifts, pledges

By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu

New gifts and pledges from private sources to support academic and athletic programs totaled $54.4 million for fiscal year 2001-

Kathryn Costello

-the second-largest tally of new gifts and commitments UGA has ever received from private sources in one year.
The total includes a record $7.1 million contributed through the annual fund program. About $20 million of the total is in the form of new pledges, which rose by more than 100 percent over the previous year.
“The university’s growing stature in academic quality and reputation clearly is sparking excitement and enthusiasm among those who support higher education excellence in Georgia,” says Kathryn Costello, senior vice president for external affairs. “This momentum is cause for great optimism as we move forward on plans for a major fund-raising initiative in the next few years.”
The $54,447,492 in new gifts and pledges for fiscal year 2001 is 13 percent above the fiscal year 2000 total of $48,312,693. It is second only to the $58.9 million the university received in fiscal year 1997, when a single donor left a $25 million bequest.
The only other year that new gifts and pledges topped $50 million was fiscal year 1999, when the total was $53.9 million.
The $7.1 million donated through the annual fund program, known as the Georgia Fund, was 7.5 percent higher than the

Robert Hawkins

previous year’s $6.6 million, which was also a record. The total includes $1.4 million in unrestricted dollars, which UGA uses to meet urgent academic needs.
Gifts to UGA-affiliated units such as the State Botanical Garden and the 4-H program totaled $873,216, a 39 percent increase over the previous year. The Georgia Educational Enhancement Fund, which provides athletic scholarships, received $10.6 million, a 5 percent increase.
While the majority of gifts came from individuals, foundations and businesses, students and their families also provided financial support. A record 36 percent of graduating seniors (1,822 students) donated $63,915 through the Senior Signature program, and the new Parents and Families Association raised $136,500 from 1,206 donors.
Robert Hawkins, associate vice president for development, says new pledges numbered 591 and accounted for $20,226,881. That figure is 115 percent higher than the $9,388,659 in new pledges last year.
“This increase reflects much hard work and dedication of our development staff and faculty in melding donor interests and campus needs,” Hawkins says. “The growing generosity of alumni and friends is exciting for all of us and will help ensure that the university’s strategic goals are met.”
Some additional highlights of private giving for the year include:
• $7.1 million in new gifts and pledges to the Terry College of Business--a 72 percent increase in total giving over the previous year;
• A $1.6 million bequest for the College of Education;
• A $1 million commitment for an endowment in international relations;
• Creation of 10 new endowment funds to benefit the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

UGA Today supports QuickTime, Flash, RealPlayer and Acrobat Reader (PDF files).
Download information about these plug-ins.
Affiliate icons for UGA Today

COLUMNS ] UGA Today ] Subscribe ] News Bureau ]
Office of Public Affairs Directory ] Photo Services ]
Broadcast, Video & Photography ] Master Calendar]
Columns ] Georgia Magazine ]Visitors Center ]
UGA Home ] Alumni ] Admissions ] UGA Directories ]
Sports ] Weather ] Search UGA sites ]

Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
Beth Roberts: Columns editor, Juliett Dinkins: Columns managing editor,
Janet Beckley: Columns art director. Peter Frey: Columns photo editor

Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu