Hundreds of faculty and staff, alumni, parents and friends gathered in Rhodes Stadium Oct. 21 for Rally Elon to celebrate surpassing the historic $100 million Ever Elon goal.
Elon will continue to count gifts toward the final tally of Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University through Dec. 31, 2011. The campaign total as of Oct. 21 was $105,662,630.
Rally Elon featured a spectacular light and fireworks show punctuated by testimonials from students, faculty, staff and alumni who described what the campaign has meant to them. President Leo M. Lambert thanked all campaign donors for collectively helping to transform the university.
“Your commitment to this school, the difference you have made here has shaped this university,” Lambert said. “You have impacted the lives of students, you have helped transform our facilities, you have supported our faculty in doing their wonderful work in the classroom. We have seen the power of philanthropy shape Elon. This is Ever Elon.”
The crowd erupted in cheers after the president announced that a recent $3 million gift sent the campaign total to more than $105 million.
The university began counting gifts to Ever Elon in 2006 before publicly launching the campaign in October 2008. Donors have endowed 204 new scholarships, including those that will make an Elon education possible for students with financial need and special talents, including student-athletes and performing arts students. Of the 204 new scholarships, 45 were established to support study abroad experiences. In addition, more than $5 million has been raised to support faculty development; more than $2 million for scholarships in Elon University School of Law; and $2 million for the Elon Academy, a college-access program for promising high school students in Alamance County with high financial need or no family history of attending college.
Academic initiatives supported by the campaign include the new physician assistant studies master’s degree program, the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center, the Porter Family Professional Development Center, the Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series at Elon Law, and Elon’s expanded career programs, which will be consolidated into a new Student Professional Development Center located in Moseley Center.
In addition to building the university endowment, Ever Elon brought impressive gains in annual giving. From the beginning of the campaign through September 2011, Elon has received more than $27 million in annual gifts, which support scholarships, programs and daily operations of the university.
Campaign gifts also have provided funding for the following facilities:
- Lindner Hall, home of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences
- Renovation of a portion of the Gerald L. Francis Center to support the launch of the physician assistant studies master’s degree program
- Alumni Field House, which includes Hendrickson Football Center
- Renovation of Alumni Gym to include Robertson Court and related athletics facilities in Koury Center
- Worsley Golf Training Center
- Renovations to Latham Park, including a new baseball playing field and drainage system
- Construction of the Student Professional Development Center in Moseley Center
- Numen Lumen Pavilion, Elon’s new multi-faith center that will be the sixth and final pavilion in the Academic Village
- Hunt Softball Park to be constructed west of Rhodes Stadium
There is still time to participate in the Ever Elon Campaign. Click here to make your gift. Thank you for supporting Elon University!
By Jaleh Hagigh
University Advancement staff
Recent Gifts and Pledges of $10,000 or More
To view the latest list of donors, please click this link and use your full email address (name@elon.edu) and password to access the PDF file.