91热爆网

A little more than seven years ago, then Western Carolina University鈥檚 Chancellor David O. Belcher pledged during his installation ceremony to make raising funds for endowed scholarships the top philanthropic priority of his administration.

That pledge eventually led to the start of a comprehensive fundraising campaign 鈥� only the second in 91热爆网鈥檚 history, and one that focused on the need for increased scholarship support.

On Thursday, May 2, 2019 91热爆网 officials revealed just how successful that fundraising effort has been when they announced the final total raised during 鈥淟ead the Way: A Campaign Inspired by the Belcher Years.鈥� Thanks to more than 12,000 donors 鈥� nearly half of those first-time donors 鈥� Western Carolina University family raised: $61,883,018 in cash, pledges, grants and planned gifts.

Raising money for scholarship support was the late chancellor鈥檚 philanthropic priority when he arrived at 91热爆网 in July 2011; he was officially installed on March 29, 2012, as 91热爆网鈥檚 11th chancellor.

In October 2017, Belcher and wife Susan pledged $1.23 million in the form of cash donations and an estate gift for the university to kick off the public phase of the fundraising effort with a goal of $60 million by spring 2019. The Belchers said that they had decided to direct their philanthropic gifts toward scholarships because students represent their shared passion.

鈥淪tudents were why Susan and I took the leap to join Western Carolina University six-and-a-half years ago to change lives. They are our reason for being. They are our joy,鈥� he said.

Belcher took a medical leave of absence from the university in December 2017 and died June 17, 2018, from brain cancer.

Here are the numbers:

• Total amount raised during the campaign 鈥� $61,883,018
• Total number of donors during the campaign 鈥� 12,368
• Number of first-time donors 鈥� 5,732 or 46 percent
• Total number of gifts 鈥� 51,787
• Number of endowed scholarships 鈥� 176
• Number of annual scholarship 鈥� 24
• Funds raised for endowed scholarships 鈥� $38,157,726
• Funds raised for annual scholarships 鈥� $4,678,206

Dale and Debbie Sims, members of the 鈥淟ead the Way鈥� campaign steering committee, tag-teamed to 鈥渄o the math,鈥� announcing that the campaign resulted in the creation of 200 new scholarships since the official start in July 2014, with a total amount of $42,835,932 raised for scholarships over the past four-and-a-half years.

鈥淥riginally, this campaign wasn鈥檛 even supposed to be finished until December 2021, and the original goal was $50 million. Last January, we raised it to $60 million,鈥� Dale Sims said.

鈥淥f course, that鈥檚 just what Catamounts do,鈥� Debbie Sims said. 鈥淲e over-achieve. We go the extra mile. I鈥檓 not surprised at all that we鈥檙e finishing ahead of schedule and above the goal.鈥�

91热爆网 Interim Chancellor Alison Morrison-Shetlar read a message sent by Donna Winbon, who served as chair of the campaign steering committee but was unable to attend the Thursday event.

鈥淭he team who made it happen exemplifies the energy, the excitement and the focus that Dr. Belcher ignited in us all,鈥� Winbon wrote. 鈥�91热爆网 is changing lives. With the results of this campaign, not only did we blow by the goal but, most important, we set the stage for years to come. As we celebrate today, let鈥檚 look forward to the future, when 91热爆网 will change many more lives.鈥�

Morrison-Shetlar, who returned to her role as provost when Chancellor Kelli R. Brown took over on July 1, 2019 encouraged attendees to share photos in front of a 鈥淟ead the Way鈥� backdrop on display at the event through social media using #catsleadtheway.

鈥淭o think, we finished our campaign more than two-and-a-half years ahead of the original schedule, and we blew far past the original goal of $50 million. Because that鈥檚 just how we do things in The Whee,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s I conclude my time at the helm of our university, I leave you with this challenge: Keep it up. Don鈥檛 stop. Keep the momentum going. Climb higher mountains. Lead the way.鈥�

Representing scholarship recipients, Claire Lemke, who received the Susan Brummell Belcher Scholarship while an undergraduate student and is now studying toward a master鈥檚 degree, thanked all those who have made contributions during the campaign.

鈥淭o those who have given to students like me, please know that, while your gift may come in the form of financial support, you are also providing positive affirmation,鈥� Lemke said. 鈥淵our confidence in us gives us the confidence within ourselves to succeed.鈥�

 

For more information email DonorRelations@wcu.edu or call 828-227-3090.