Advancement Committee Unveils Milestone Achievements in the Honor the Future Campaign!

At a recent meeting, the Board of Visitors’ Advancement Committee celebrated a major milestone: the University’s “Honor the Future” campaign has raised over $6 billion in donations. This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering the campaign was originally set to raise $5 billion.

Launched in 2019, the campaign focuses on three key areas: education, democracy, and research. With funds from this initiative, the University has been able to support various projects, including buildings for the School of Data Science and the Karsh Institute for Democracy.

Vice President for Advancement Mark Luellen expressed gratitude to the 257,000 donors who made this possible. He noted that every school within the University has exceeded its fundraising goals, a feat surpassing initial predictions of $3 billion by external consultants.

Two scholarship recipients shared their powerful stories during the meeting. Olivia Baker, a Bicentennial Scholarship recipient, highlighted how the funding transformed her college experience at the University of Virginia Wise. She plans to use her degree to pursue a career in law, empowered by her educational accomplishments.

Corinne Lile-King, a Blue Ridge Scholarship recipient, also spoke about her journey. Growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, she dreamt of attending U.Va. Her scholarship made this dream possible, allowing her to study biology without the burden of heavy loans. She now advocates for financial aid programs that help students from underrepresented backgrounds.

University President Jim Ryan expressed his thanks to everyone involved and mentioned that planning for the next fundraising campaign will begin soon. He emphasized that campaigns should not just focus on raising money but also on setting long-term goals for the University.

Fundraising efforts at U.Va. reflect a broader trend in higher education, where institutions are increasingly relying on donor contributions. According to recent data, colleges across the U.S. raised nearly $50 billion in 2021 alone. This shows that alumni and community support play a crucial role in shaping educational futures.

The next Advancement Committee meeting is scheduled for September 11-12, where more developments will be discussed. The ongoing support from alumni and donors continues to drive progress for the University, enriching the experiences of current and future students.



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