Campaign for MSU tops $1.2 billion goal; Simons’ major gift reflects momentum

Oct. 14, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon announced today that The Campaign For MSU, the university’s capital campaign, this week has surpassed the goal of raising $1.2 billion in total gifts and pledges – a year ahead of schedule.

Launched on September 20, 2002, the campaign had a goal of raising $1.2 billion by 2007.

“Our job is far from done,” Simon told guests attending the annual President’s Brunch this morning. “But this certainly is an achievement worth celebrating.”

Simon noted that earlier this year the campaign passed the goal of raising $250 million in planned (deferred) gifts, with more than $280 million raised to date. She added that a crucial remaining focus is raising much-needed money for endowment. “We now need to reach and exceed our goal of adding $450 million to MSU’s endowment,” she said. More than $360 million has been raised so far.

Simon called the capital campaign success to date “broad-based.” She said, “These results could not have been possible without the generosity of our alumni, faculty, deans, staff and so many friends. This is Team MSU at its best.” Simon said one indicator of “family commitment” is the fact that faculty-staff giving consistently is among the best in the Big Ten, and represents six percent of all annual giving.

Also at the event, David Porteous, chairman of the Board of Trustees, announced that Simon and her husband, Dr. Roy Simon, director of telecommunication and transportation systems, have made a “dramatic momentum” planned estate gift that will, with their prior gifts, elevate them to the newly formed Clifton R. Wharton Society, a designation for top-level donors who have contributed cash gifts of $2.5 to $5 million or planned gifts of at least $3.75 million.

The latest gift will be used to fund two existing scholarships and establish a third.

“The Simons once again lead by example,” said Charles Webb, vice president for development. “Their continuing generosity will have a lasting and profound effect on our university. Major gifts like these are essential and will be appreciated even more by generations to come.”

“Our commitment of dollars reflects our commitment to our alma mater,” Roy Simon said. “While our gifts always have been in gratitude for the past, they more importantly are evidence of our enthusiasm for the future – and for those who will shape that future – as MSU sets about the ambitious goal of going from land-grant to world-grant.”

Of the total of the new Simon gift, 40 percent will be added to the Drs. Lou Anna K. and Roy J. Simon Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Simons chose to continue to increase the fund that provides financial aid to students in the School of Music, especially those in the Jazz Studies Program. An additional 30 percent will be added to another existing scholarship established by Roy Simon’s parents, the Mary Jane and Theodore B. Simon Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund was established in 2004 and will support students majoring in business or engineering who also work at the Physical Plant Division, where Theodore “Ted” Simon worked and headed for years, from the post-war years until 1984.

The remaining 30 percent will establish a new scholarship in the School of Music. The Drs. Lou Anna K. and Roy Simon Endowed Marching Band Scholarship will help recruit and retain exceptional students in the MSU Marching Band.

Webb said the Simons have a giving history that spans four decades and that “they have said their cash gifts will continue.” Their major giving areas also have included the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, WKAR-Radio, Kresge Art Museum and other areas.

President Simon told the brunch gathering that MSU needs “to take advantage of our momentum and establish an increased level of annual giving comparable to that of other public universities in the Big Ten.”

“And we all need to recognize the hard work and expertise of Chuck Webb, Marti Heil and the entire development staff,” she said.

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