{"id":76571,"date":"2014-04-25T13:26:24","date_gmt":"2014-04-25T17:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=76571"},"modified":"2014-04-25T13:26:24","modified_gmt":"2014-04-25T17:26:24","slug":"umw-launches-50-million-fundraising-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2014\/04\/25\/umw-launches-50-million-fundraising-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"UMW Launches $50 Million Fundraising Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Mary Washington has publicly launched its $50 million Mary Washington First<\/a> fundraising campaign. The announcement was made at a news conference on Friday, April 25, in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Mary Washington First campaign aims to secure private funds for various initiatives, including for student scholarships.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The goal of the comprehensive campaign is to raise funds to advance President Richard V. Hurley\u2019s vision: for University of Mary Washington to become one of the nation\u2019s premier public liberal arts and sciences universities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pace of change in higher education accelerates daily, and the fiscal challenges faced by colleges and universities are daunting,\u201d Hurley said. \u201cIn order to remain at the forefront of our competitors, affordable for our students and families, and able to attract the best and brightest minds, it is imperative for UMW to have the resources necessary for success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the fundraising initiatives, the university strives to secure private funds for endowment of scholarships, restoration of the campus amphitheater, support for the university\u2019s three colleges, enhancement of the Fund for Mary Washington, and development of key program initiatives.<\/p>\n

These initiatives are: the arts, athletics, leadership, study abroad, the Chappell Great Lives lecture series, libraries and instructional technology.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A rendering by Train & Partners Architects shows what the amphitheater might look like after renovation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The amphitheater, located in a grove of trees near Sunken Road on the Fredericksburg campus, has been home to many significant UMW traditions since it was constructed in 1913. The planned $3 million restoration would return the site to its 1952-1953 appearance by repairing and reconstructing damaged and missing pieces. It would provide seating for approximately 600 people on weather-resilient benches and chairs while incorporating accommodations for ADA accessibility.<\/p>\n

Over the past three years, in the non-public phase of the campaign, the university has raised a total of $29.2 million. Represented in that amount are seven gifts and pledges of
\n$1 million or more. Out of a total of about 13,000 donors, more than 120 have made campaign commitments of $25,000 or more.<\/p>\n

Significant gifts include:<\/p>\n