BOWLING GREEN, O.--Alumni, employees and friends of Bowling Green State University helped raise a record $15,912,966 in private donations for fiscal year 2005-06, University officials have announced.

“The generosity of our donors is truly inspiring,” said Marcia Sloan Latta, associate vice president for University advancement and director of development. Alumni giving for the year was up by more than $3 million, she noted.

Also contributing to the more than $1 million jump from 2004-05's total of $14,858,478 was the $803,030 pledged by University employees and retirees, and corporate giving, which showed the first increase in the past few years.

Ed Reiter, chair of the BGSU Foundation Board, said the board is “extremely pleased with the outstanding results of this year's fund-raising effort. It shows that our alumni, employees and friends are deeply committed to the University and to the future of our students and faculty.

“It's always wonderful when you can make a positive difference in someone's life, and these private donations for scholarships, the new buildings and other projects will all make a tremendous difference for our students,” he added.

In July 2002, BGSU began a multiyear, comprehensive fund-raising effort called Building Dreams: The Centennial Campaign for Bowling Green State University. The University made significant progress last year toward its goal of $120 million, with totals now exceeding $98 million, according to Latta.

In addition to capital improvement projects, the money raised will be used for a variety of programs and areas, including the BGeXperience values initiative, WBGU-PBS, athletics, the President's Leadership Academy and endowed scholarships.

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