Springfield College Raises $44.5 Million, Tops Campaign Goal
October 22, 2008SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 22, 2008 -- Calling it “historic,” Springfield College President Richard B. Flynn announced that the largest fundraising campaign in the college’s 123-year history has closed at a record $44.5 million, exceeding its goal by more than 10 percent.
“Our supporters have given a ringing endorsement to our unique mission of educating students in spirit, mind and body to become tomorrow’s leaders by contributing more than five times the amount that has ever been raised in a Springfield College campaign,” Flynn said.
“Their generosity helps assure that current and future students will benefit from superior educational programs supported by state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality campus life. We are deeply grateful to all who worked and contributed to put this campaign over the top,” Flynn added.
The college entered the public phase of the campaign in 2005 with $20 million raised. Last year, The Kresge Foundation announced a $1 million challenge grant if the college were to raise $39 million by June 30, 2008. The challenge was met.
Altogether, the college received nine gifts of $1 million or more, 67 gifts of $100,000 or more, and 376 contributions of $10,000 or greater. There were over 15,000 donors from all U.S. states and 15 foreign countries.
Supported by campaign funds, the college constructed its new Wellness Center and Field House, expanded and renovated Schoo-Bemis Science Center to create a modern, interdisciplinary science teaching facility, and broke ground for the new Campus Union Complex. It also established 50 new endowed scholarships, and 16 named funds supporting the college.
Helen Davis Blake, co-chair of the campaign and vice-chair on the board of trustees, said, “This clearly has been the most important campaign in the history of Springfield College, and its success sends a huge vote of confidence in the leadership and in the future of the college. President Flynn, the board, and the development staff have done yeoman’s work in accomplishing, and in exceeding, our goal. We said we wanted to improve college facilities, champion academic excellence, increase the scholarship endowment, and support the priorities necessary for the college to fulfill its mission of educating our students for leadership in service to others. We have done, and are doing, just that.”
Flynn added, “In addition to benefitting Springfield College, the campaign has also had a positive impact on the local economy, and will provide ongoing benefit to the region. Local businesses have been suppliers to our building projects. We’ve attracted the largest first-year class in our history, and the new top-quality facilities supporting our academic programs will continue to draw students to Springfield College.”
The Wellness Center and Field House both opened this fall. Combined, they total 141,660 square feet of instructional, athletic and recreational space with the latest equipment. The Schoo-Bemis Science Center features cutting-edge interior design that supports integrated science instruction and follows guidelines of the National Science Foundation.
The new Campus Union Complex, designed to be a future hub of the campus, will support the college’s extensive student programs, organizations and activities; international programs; and career services. It will also house a food court, bookstore, convenience store, post office, lounges and activity space including a 6,000 square-foot multipurpose room.
Co-chair of the campaign, with Blake, is William B. Marsh of Cambridge, Mass., former member and chair of the board of trustees. Honorary chair is Art Linkletter, the renowned entertainer and lecturer, who was chairman of a previous Springfield College campaign that concluded in the early ’70s. Linkletter is an emeritus member of the college’s board of trustees in whose honor the college named its swimming complex, The Art Linkletter Natatorium.
