By Sarah Carlson, Copy Editor
With 12 months until the beginning of ACU’s Centennial Celebration and 28 months until the end of the Campaign, everything is on schedule and receiving great response, said Phil Boone, director of the Campaign.
The Campaign has raised more than $57 million out of the $150 million total to be raised by December 2006.
The renovation of Burford Music Center is at $736,000 of the $2.5 million needed. Brent Magner, director of development, said a lot of work has to be done to raise funds for the Burford Center, and the goal has been to wrap up the fund raising this fall.
Promotional books went out this summer to alumni and friends of the university, along with a 22-minute film on ACU’s Centennial. The film shows alumni, faculty and students describing why they love ACU and think the Centennial is important, as well as showing footage of the history of ACU and events such as Sing Song.
“The film brings back so many memories for people,” Boone said, “and it obviously touched their emotions.”
Boone said feedback for the books and video has been positive, and they are a way to prepare people for being contacted by gift officers and fundraising teams.
Magner said that at this point the promotional items have not increased the number of donations to the Campaign received, but he didn’t expect an increase during the summer.
Prior campaigns have shown that promotional items such as books increase donations, said Boone; it is just too early to tell.
More contact is made with alumni and friends of the university during the school year and everyone who was sent a book will be contacted, Magner said.
“The feedback has been very positive,” Magner said.
“People are excited about the Centennial. They know it’s a once in a lifetime event.”
Boone said activity for the Campaign remains high, and fundraising in the summer is important because it lays the groundwork for what will happen during the school year.
“A lot of the seeds that we plant in the summer create a momentum for the fall,” Boone said.
A focus for this year is the faculty and staff campaign, with each department around campus raising money from their own people, Boone said. He said the campaign was kicked off in the spring and faculty and staff members were asked to pray about it during the summer.
The faculty and staff campaign “creates a credibility for us when we can say that professors and staff give their money because they believe in what we’re doing,” Boone said.
He said communication will begin this year through ACU Today and other outlets about the Celebration and Campaign, letting people know specific events that will take place next school year. August 2005 is the official beginning of the 12-month of the Celebration.
Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, is the most important fundraiser through building and improving relationships with the constituency of the university, Boone said.
“Raising money and raising students are high on his priority list,” Boone said.
