B Y - L O U I S E - M c B E E

	Providing the margin of excellence
		GEORGE FOSTER PEABODY UGA's first major benefactor provided the funds for many projects in the early 1900s, including $50,000 to complete the first library.
		DAN REDFEARN After working his way through school, Redfearn (BS '10), vowed to help others get a degree. His gift to the endowment fund was one of the largest of that era.
		ILAH DUNLAP LITTLE Her 1944 bequest provided a significant part of the $2 million eventually raised for construction of the Main Library, which bears her name.
		W.C. BRADLEY FOUNDATION In 1949, the Columbus-based Bradley Foundation gave the University the Greek Revival mansion that still serves as the President's House.
		KELLOGG FOUNDATION A grant from Kellogg, plus matching state funds, built the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in 1957; a second gift in 1984 paid for improvements.
		CALLAWAY FOUNDATION In the late 1960s, the 300-acre State Botanical Garden was established with support from the Callaway Foundation of LaGrange.
		RUSSELL FOUNDATION In memory of Richard B. Russell (BL '18), who served in the U.S. Senate for 38 years, the Russell Foundation funds teaching awards, leadership programs, and a biennial
		BERNARD RAMSEY Ramsey (BS '37) gave $44 million to his alma mater, including funds for a significant expansion of the Foundation Fellows program.
		SMITTY GRIFFITH One of UGA's present-day patrons of the arts, Griffith is a long-time supporter of the Georgia Museum of Art, where the auditorium is named for her.

he structure of the U.S. economy has shifted to a knowledge-based environment. There is no growth in jobs that don't require a post-secondary degree. More than ever, college is a must. And to deliver the best possible academic product, UGA needs financial support.

The state of Georgia has provided incredible support to higher education in recent years. During the time I've been in the legislature, there has been only one year (1992) when there wasn't an increase in support over the previous year—and most of the time the increase has been in the 5-12 percent range. States that don't provide that level of support will lose jobs, skilled workers, and taxes to those states that do.

Major fund drives 1920s: Alumni Society Campaign, $1 million 1980s: Bicentennial Campaign, $93 million 1990s: Third Century Campaign, $151 million

In these times, it is so important for the University of Georgia to be able to keep good faculty and recruit top-notch new faculty. To do that, you have to pay competitive salaries. We've seen salaries climb in the past several years, but we must maintain or improve on our current position.

When I talk about support for this institution, I mean private as well as public support. When I first came to UGA in the early 1960s, there wasn't that much emphasis on fundraising. It was the late '60s before the first vice president for development, Perk Robins, was named. But today we recognize just how important private gifts are—and what a difference they can make in the quality of facilities, faculty, and academic programs. Recent presidents have emphasized that the University of Georgia is state-assisted, not state-supported. (State funds make up only 43 percent of UGA's current budget.) I think they've done a great job of raising that private support. Each one has taken the University to the next level.

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