KU First total surpasses $500 million; campaign will continue

Forrest Hoglund, chairman of KU First, announced that a $15 million pledge from the Kansas Masonic Foundation put KU First over its initial goal of $500 million.

KU First: Invest in Excellence, the largest fund-raising campaign in University of Kansas history, has exceeded its goal of $500 million, Forrest Hoglund, campaign chairman, has announced. Hoglund also said that KU First will continue in order to raise support for unfunded campaign priorities.

"Four days after we announced the KU First campaign to the public, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001," Hoglund said. "That fall, charities across the country scaled back their fund-raising, and as the economy faltered, many KU alumni and friends wondered if it would be possible to reach our goal of $500 million by the end of 2004. I'm here to tell you that we've more than met that goal —we did it in record time."

Hoglund, e'56, revealed the campaign milestone during a ceremony at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., where representatives of the Kansas Masonic Foundation committed to a $15 million pledge for the Kansas Cancer Institute. The gift put the total raised for KU First at $501.7 million. Counting toward the campaign's goal began in 1998.

"Meeting this goal would not be possible without the hard work of hundreds of volunteers and the KU Endowment staff," Hoglund said.

Jeffrey L. Sowder, president of the board of the Kansas Masonic Foundation, announces the foundation's pledge of $15 million for the Kansas Cancer Institute.

Although the campaign has raised significant funds for research, construction projects, and student and faculty support, many campaign priorities remain underfunded, he said. Among them are several building projects on KU's four campuses, scholarships, fellowships and professorships.


Chancellor Robert Hemenway thanked the many donors who so far have given or pledged support.

"At the start of this campaign, Forrest Hoglund said we would contact thousands of alumni and friends on behalf of KU First," Hemenway said. "This campaign would not have this level of success to date had we not had wide participation from so many of those individuals.

"Campaign goals aren't met through million-dollar gifts alone. Alumni and friends have responded to KU First with gifts of all sizes. We're confident that KU supporters will help us build on that success to continue the campaign."

Private donations provided about 10 percent of KU's operating budget in fiscal year 2002.

KU Endowment will continue to conduct KU First on behalf of the University through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.