Trustees Make History
Leadership Exceeds Challenge and Sets Record Giving Level
University Trustees and Campaign
Co-Chairs present a concept
drawing of the new $20 million
University Commons. Left to right
are Madeline Johnson Stein '68,
Margaret Wright Steele '80,
Rosemary Deniken Blankley '57
and Thomas J. Reilly, Jr.
History is being made with At Home & In the World—The Campaign for Arcadia University… and Arcadia University's Trustees are setting the pace.
Leading the way is Board Chair, Lois Haber '71, who announced a $5 million gift at the October 2007 Board meeting, during which Trustees voted unanimously to launch the Campaign. This gift, from Lois and Michael Haber, is the largest in the University's history and includes a $2 million Challenge to Trustees. Haber's announcement inspired a standing ovation from fellow Trustees. In just seven months, their response has been remarkable: nearly $2.5 million in Trustee gifts, soaring well beyond the Challenge goal.
"This is an exciting time in the University's history when all of us who care about Arcadia can help shape its future," the philanthropist and Board Chair said. "I'm thrilled with the Trustees' response because every gift to Arcadia can now have such a great impact in key areas—from renewing student life on campus with the new University Commons to encouraging greater scholarship through endowments for student aid and named faculty positions."
Haber's main interest, however, is the new University Commons. "When I was a student at Beaver College in the 1970s, it was clear we needed a new student center or University Commons. After more than 35 years, it's time to make this facility a reality. Trustees and staff are working closely with the architect to design a building that will be a new hub of student life and one of the busiest facilities on campus. I see my gift as an investment in the potential for success of new generations of students," she adds.
Despite the success of the Trustee Challenge, Haber is realistic about the Campaign. "Our Campaign goal is more than twice that of our most recent campaign for Landman Library. We will need to broaden our base of support and encourage people to make gifts larger than in recent years. I hope that every alum will consider making the University's Campaign a top priority for charitable giving in the future."
Trustee Beverly Rappaport Goldberg '53, echoed the feelings of many, saying that the Haber gift "inspired me to make a gift larger than I ever dreamed possible. I'm proud of my Beaver College education and recognize that every day, our faculty and staff give their best to provide Arcadia students with a terrific education. Through the Campaign, we're enabling the University to enrich student learning and to better prepare our graduates to excel."
With an earlier $1 million gift made by Rosemary Deniken Blankley '57 and her husband, Walter, Trustee giving totals nearly $8.5 million, another new record for Arcadia.
