By Tom Jackson
Fiscal year 1997 was the best year ever in private giving to the University of Georgia, with more than $65 million received, UGA Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Dan Amos announced in August.
The previous best was fiscal year 1993, the final year of the university's Third Century Campaign, when $42 million was raised. The total for fiscal year 1996 was $31 million. The fiscal year 1997 figure included an estate gift of $30 million from the late Bernard Ramsey.
"Even without the generous gift from Bernie's estate, we had an extraordinary fund-raising year," Amos said. "We are particularly proud of our success with the 53rd Annual Fund campaign."
The fiscal year 1997 Annual Fund campaign showed a 12 percent increase in dollars and an 8 percent increase in the number of donors, said Don Eastman, vice president for development and university relations. "It is almost unprecedented to raise both categories at once," Eastman said.
"The University of Georgia had gifts from more than 47,000 alumni and friends last year, and every one of them is important to us," Eastman added. "That kind of support reflects tremendous confidence in our students, faculty and staff by our many loyal alumni and friends. It also reflects well on the superb support we get from the trustees of the University of Georgia Foundation and the dedicated service of our development staff."
