Campaign ends with historic success
Go Beyond: Campaign for Wheaton may be officially completed, but the college’s students will feel the impact of the effort for years to come.
Go Beyond, by the numbers
Scholarships
More than 220 new scholarships now exist to improve access to a Wheaton education through endowed funds and annual gifts.
$53.3 million
Wheaton Fund
The entire campus—from the library and technology to campus programming— received much-needed support through the Wheaton Fund.
$35.7 million
Mars Science Center
We have state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and collaboration space in the Mars Center for Science and Technology.
$32.6 million
Student-Faculty Research
More opportunities are available for students to partner with professors on research projects, supported by new endowed funds for student-faculty collaborations.
$1.4 million
Nordin Field
There are new opportunities for intercollegiate, club and intramural sports at the Diane Nordin ’80 Athletic Field.
$3.8 million
Academic Programs
New programs and resources for students, including $2.4 million for academic and faculty support and $2.1 million for the Filene Center for Academic Advising and Career Services.
$10.6 million
The eight-year fundraising effort closed on June 30, 2014, with $137,614,399 in gifts and pledges to support student scholarship, faculty and academic programs, building new science and athletic facilities, and supporting myriad programs with annual contributions.
“We started the campaign with ambitious goals, and the generosity of the Wheaton community allowed us to accomplish every objective, and go beyond,” said Thomas Hollister, chair of the Wheaton Board of Trustees. “This extraordinary success has strengthened the quality of the programs and opportunities that we offer students, and has helped place a Wheaton education within reach for more families.”
The campaign’s $137 million final tally exceeded the original $120 million target that the Board of Trustees set for the campaign when it launched in 2006. Leading the effort was a centerpiece of former President Ronald A. Crutcher’s tenure.
“I will always be grateful for the commitment to Wheaton and to the value of the liberal arts shown by the thousands of alumnae and alumni, parents and friends through their generosity,” Crutcher said.
Leaders in guiding the effort shared his gratitude. “Wheaton’s campaign ended more than 10 percent over goal. That is a huge tribute to the motivation of all our donors, who clearly know the importance of the strong college education that Wheaton provides,” said Trustee Debra Kent Glidden ’68, a co-chair of the campaign steering committee. “I have been privileged to know many Wheaton students. I know that Wheaton makes a difference in each of their lives and that many students have made a difference in mine.”
The campaign elicited broad participation from the Wheaton community. More than 12,000 people contributed to the campaign, including 9,192 alumnae and alumni and 2,060 parents of students and graduates. Leadership contributions of $25,000 or more came from about 400 individuals, yet accounted for just over 90 percent of the total.
“The success of the campaign can be measured on so many levels. It isn’t only about the amount raised but the huge outpouring of support from Wheaton alumnae/i, parents and friends. It is also about the enthusiasm that has been generated in making Wheaton better and better,” said Trustee Nancy Pearlstine Conger ’67, a co-chair of the campaign. “All of this took place as the worldwide economy collapsed. The loyalty and commitment of the Wheaton community is extraordinary in good and bad times. So many stepped forward in so many ways that we truly did ‘go beyond.’”
Wheaton plans to celebrate the end of the campaign and pay tribute to everyone who made it a success during Homecoming Weekend. On the patio outside the Diana Davis Spencer ’60 Café, a plaque will be dedicated on Friday, October 17, in honor of the thousands of alumnae/i, parents and friends who contributed to the effort.