Local support key to capital campaign’s success
FOR RELEASE: Saturday, April 27, 2002
Huntington, Ind. " The $37-million Campaign for Huntington College has exceeded its goal, and contributions from the local community have been instrumental in the effort's success. College officials announced Friday that a total of $43 million has been received or pledged toward the comprehensive fundraising effort. Of that sum, $7.8 million came from residents and businesses of Huntington County. We are overwhelmed by the support and affirmation we have received from Huntington County families and businesses, said college president Blair Dowden. We are so very grateful for the close ties that exist between the College and the community, and we are truly thankful for the tremendous outpouring of tangible support during this capital campaign. I've come to realize in new ways just how much the community values Huntington College.
Huntington College publicly launched its comprehensive capital campaign in 2000 after more than two years of planning. According to Ned Kiser, vice president for advancement, The Campaign for Huntington College was designed to achieve four primary goals:
- Construct a new science and technology center and partially endow its operation
($18.5 million),
- Increase the College's endowment ($6.4 million),
- Complete key campus improvements, including the renovation of the current science building into general classroom space ($3.1 million), and
- Enhance unrestricted annual giving ($9 million over the course of the Campaign).
By March 31 of this year, each of these financial goals had been met or exceeded, with a considerable portion of the revenue contributed from within Huntington County:
Project
Goal
Local Support
Total Support
Science Hall
$18.5 million
$1.7 million
$18.9 million
Endowment
$6.4 million
$5.8 million
$11.5 million
Campus Improvements
$3.1 million
N/A
$3.5 million
Annual Fund
$9.0 million
$0.3 million
$9.1 million
Total
$37.0 million
$7.8 million
$43 million
These figures represent gifts and pledges from 270 Huntington County donors. Contributions from current Huntington College trustees, faculty and staff have been omitted from these sums. As the Campus Improvement Projects were funded through a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and through trustee support, no additional solicitations for this initiative were made in the local community.
A number of local donors and campaign volunteers were recognized on Friday at a special celebration on campus. The event began with a donor recognition ceremony in the new science building's largest lecture auditorium, named Hiner Hall in honor of Homer and Marj Hiner of Huntington, who made a significant gift to the capital campaign.
Huntington College has always been a part of our lives, Mrs. Hiner explained in an interview with Huntington College Magazine. Our children were always on campus, experiencing art, culture "even basketball camps. For our business, Huntington College offered educational opportunities, workshops and seminars, employee shadowing programs, and some outstanding employees that helped our business grow. Through our 32 years in business and raising our family, we've seen Huntington College grow and develop. That growth enhanced our growth as well.
Huntington College has been a part of our past in so many ways, we felt we wanted to help today in some fashion, in order for the College to meet the challenges of tomorrow, she said. (The full interview is online at http://www.huntington.edu/mag/HC_MAG_summer_00.pdf.)
Huntington College expressed thanks to the many local volunteers who had helped raise support for the campaign at a banquet Friday evening in the Habecker Dining Commons. Key campaign leaders from the local community were updated on the overall progress of the campaign projects, and each received a small gift in recognition of their efforts on behalf of Huntington College. They included:
Huntington Regional Campaign Committee
Theodore L. Bendall, Jr.
Nellie S. Birdsall, Co-Chair
Russell H. Birdsall
Don F. Deemer
Barbara E. Fetters
Robert E. Hale
Paul G. Hammel
Clarence Kopp, Jr.
Jane A. Schenkel, Co-Chair
Darlene M. Shideler
Gilbert J. Shideler
Raymond Waldfogel
Betty Williams
Donald Williams
Campaign Prayer Ministry Team
R. Evelyn Baker
Nellie S. Birdsall
Russell H. Birdsall
Howard F. Cherry
Chris Dowden
Barbara E. Fetters
Paul E. Hirschy
Clarence Kopp, Jr.
Mary Kay LaMont
C. Ray Miller, Chair
Gerald D. Smith
Erin E. Steury
Jean G. Walmsley
Huntington Prospect Advisory Team
John Easterday
Ralph L. Johnson
Terry Larson
Dennis Massengill
Joseph K. Wiley
Stephen E. Zahn, Chair
Huntington College Foundation Fund Drive
2000
Charles F. Homier
Ralph L. Johnson
James R. Landrum
Christopher B. Love
Donald L. Martin
Gerald O. Moreland
Emmaline O. Purviance
Thomas T. Schenkel
J. Kay Schwob
Mark A. Sell
Anita Shepherd
Max Spaulding
Roger K. Strickler
James L. Wilson
Roger K. Strickler
James L. Wilson
Stephen E. Zahn
Huntington College Foundation Fund Drive
2001
Connie Abbett
Theodore L. Bendall, Jr.
John Easterday
Wilford Hahn
Ralph L. Johnson
Ken Kline
James R. Landrum
Christopher B. Love
Donald L. Martin
Dennis Massengill
Dennis L. McNeely
Gerald O. Moreland
M. Pauline Roush
Thomas T. Schenkel
J. Kay Schwob
Mark A. Sell
Gene Snowden
The success of this campaign is God's blessing, President Dowden said. But God in His infinite wisdom chooses to work with and through people. If it had not been for the diligent prayers and hard work of these volunteers, we would not be opening a new science building in the fall.
These persons have helped Huntington College to build a first-rate facility where students and faculty can pursue their studies and research in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology and related disciplines, Dowden continued. We are very grateful for their enthusiasm and their far-reaching vision for the future. Through their tireless work and through the grace of God, we have accomplished amazing things for our campus.
Huntington College faculty members are eager to move into the new science building, which is still in the final stages of construction. High-tech equipment will be relocated to the new facility over the summer and classes will be held there beginning in the fall semester. Huntington College will formally dedicate the still-unnamed Science Hall during Homecoming festivities in early October.
We hope many in the community will come to our dedication ceremonies this fall and take a tour of the building, said Dowden. This new facility was very much a community project, and we are very grateful for the remarkable support of our friends and alumni in Huntington County.
