The Campaign for Willamette

The Campaign Kickoff

Friday, December 2, 2005

Friday, December 2, was a historic day for Willamette University, the day we kicked off the public phase of the Campaign for Willamette. The campaign will support student scholarships, create endowed professorships, replace and renew campus facilities and help us keep pace with ever-changing technologies. And while the campaign is about raising money, its significance stems from what that money will allow us to do - celebrate those attributes of Willamette that we cherish and pledge ourselves anew to the values of community, opportunity, leadership and tradition that will lead to continued growth and success.

We began this campaign in June 2002, and we have raised more than $66.5 million to date, including $8 million raised since we last reported to you in June. The sold-out kick-off event at the Salem Conference Center, with a keynote address by General Colin Powell, netted more than $300,000 in scholarship support for Willamette students. To give you an idea of what that level of endowment means, it is enough to meet the average scholarship need of one student, each year, forever.

More than 600 alumni, friends and supporters filled the festive ballroom, enjoyed a fine dinner, reconnected with other alumni and friends, were entertained by a variety of student music ensembles and were inspired by General Powell's discussion of leadership.

All great accomplishments, all strategic moments in history begin with one individual taking the lead. Leadership is perhaps the single value that defines the University's mission, motto, faculty, students and alumni. The success of Willamette University is based on individual stories of leadership, from our founders to the students who leave us, diplomas in hand, to go out and change the world.

How will we raise the remainder of the $125 million needed to meet our goals? The case is clear. The need is clear. The answer is also clear: individual leadership. By joining in our effort to raise $125 million, you are giving tangible support to the success of future leaders. Thank you for giving to this extraordinary effort.

M. Lee Pelton President

Robert Packard III ’73 Former Chair, Board of Trustees

 

non nobis solum nati sumus

not unto ourselves alone are we born