UO Receives Two Largest Gifts Ever
2007 A Banner Year for Donations to Campaign
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The two largest private gifts in University of Oregon history pushed Campaign Oregon past its $600-million goal to a total of $754.8 million at the end of calendar year 2007. But the campaign will continue until its scheduled end in December 2008 and will emphasize meeting specific academic goals, says UO President Dave Frohnmayer.
Here’s a brief summary of campaign-related announcements in 2007:
Athletics: A $100 million pledge—the largest gift in UO history—from Penny and Phil Knight to create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund. The fund will help make it possible for the athletic department to remain financially self-sufficient and move forward with a new 12,500-seat basketball arena on the old Williams Bakery site. Construction is expected to start in summer 2008, with completion by fall 2010.
Sciences: A $74.5 million gift from philanthropist Lorry I. Lokey—the largest single academic donation in University of Oregon history— will dramatically transform science teaching and research at the UO. The bulk of the gift, about $50 million, will go toward the Lorry I. Lokey Science Advancement and Graduate Education Initiative for faculty, graduate student, and program support in the sciences. The gift also includes support for the UO Science Library, humanities and social sciences, journalism scholarships, the new Ford Alumni Center, and other programs.
Education: A ceremonial groundbreaking for the HEDCO Education Building marked the construction start for the centerpiece of a $48.1 million project that will nearly double space for the UO College of Education. Completion is expected in the summer of 2009.
Alumni Center: T he university is nearing the halfway mark in its drive to raise $25 million to fund the Cheryl Ramberg Ford and Allyn Ford Alumni Center. The center—to be built on a site bordering Agate Street, Franklin Boulevard, and East 13th Avenue—is expected to break ground in the spring of 2009, with occupancy in the first half of 2010.
Securities Center: Six alumni of the University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business are contributing a total of $2.5 million to help launch the UO’s new Securities Analysis Center, which will educate students for careers in the investment industry.
International Center: More than 300 students, faculty and staff members, and guests celebrated the $1.3 million renovation of the newly named Mills International Center, located above the post office in the Erb Memorial Union. More than 180 donors from across the world funded approximately 25 percent of the project, and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon and the university paid for the rest.
