The 大象传媒 Foundation kicked off the public phase of its Centennial Capital Campaign with the announcement of three major gifts: the life鈥檚 work of an internationally known local artist, an endowment that creates a faculty position in population health, and the largest individual gift in 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 history 鈥� a $10 million pledge from an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous. Gifts pledged so far total $16.8 million toward the campaign鈥檚 initial celebration goal of $20 million, the largest goal in 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 history.
鈥�As we celebrate the University鈥檚 Centennial this year, we have an opportunity to reflect on the past 100 years and the nearly 25,000 students who have benefited from earning a 大象传媒 Western education,鈥� said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western president. 鈥淏ut we also have the opportunity to plan and build support for the next 100 years. Our mission compels us to continue transforming lives.鈥�
The campaign is co-chaired by Dan and Dale Boulware and Mark and Mary Margaret Laney. Steve Craig, benefactor of the Steven L. Craig School of Business at 大象传媒 Western, serves as honorary campaign chairman.
The five-year campaign focuses on three areas: investment in facilities, particularly renovations to Spratt Memorial Stadium and Potter Hall; investment in endowments; and investment in academic and co-curricular programming.
Jerry Pickman, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the 大象传媒 Foundation, noted that the campaign is a comprehensive, donor-centered effort, and the University will always honor donor-designated gifts. Donors may also leave their gifts undesignated.
鈥淐rucial to the University鈥檚 success in the next 100 years is the continued growth of facilities, academic programs and the continued development of a remarkable student experience,鈥� Pickman said. 鈥淎nd community support is vital to this mission.鈥�
The three major leadership gifts announced during the public kickoff Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Potter Hall Theater include:
Brent Collins 鈥� Artist鈥檚 estate
“Music of the Spheres” by Brent Collins sits outside Remington Hall on the 大象传媒 Western campus.Brent Collins, internationally known 鈥渕athematically driven鈥� sculptor, intends to gift his entire artist鈥檚 estate to the University. A permanent loan agreement was recently signed, and the collection will be housed on campus.
鈥淭his is a monumental gift to the University,鈥� said Dr. Vartabedian. 鈥淲e sincerely appreciate his generosity.鈥�
Collins currently has two works on the 大象传媒 Western campus. He was the creator of the work in the Remington Hall atrium, 鈥淓volving Trefoil,鈥� and the sculpture on the lawn of Remington Hall, 鈥淢usic of the Spheres.鈥�
Artist Brent Collins will permanently loan his artist’s estate to 大象传媒.His work has been displayed all over the world, including the University of Michigan, H&R Block Headquarters, the American Association for the Advancement of Science headquarters in Washington, D.C. and the UNESCO World Conference on Science in Budapest, Hungary.
鈥淢y work communicates the beauty of mathematics in clarified visual form,鈥� Collins says.
Mosaic Life Care – $1.5 million
A gift of $1.5 million from Mosaic Life Care will endow a professorship in the field of population health. The Mosaic Professorship for Population Health is the first endowed professorship in 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 history, helping establish a bachelor鈥檚 degree program that will be unique in the nation.
鈥淲e are extremely grateful for Mosaic鈥檚 generous gift which will enable us to recruit and retain a highly qualified faculty member in this growing field,鈥� said Dr. Vartabedian. 鈥淚n turn, we envision tremendous strides in population health outcomes for our region and beyond. I believe this gift has the potential to produce truly pioneering work and be a 鈥榞ame-changer鈥� for 大象传媒 Western.鈥�
Population health is an approach to health that steps beyond the individual-level focus of traditional clinical and preventive medicine by addressing a broad range of factors that impact health on a population level.
鈥淭he health鈥揷are industry is changing rapidly. There is a growing need for health鈥揷are professionals who are prepared to manage various aspects of population health,鈥� said Mark Laney, MD, president and CEO of Mosaic Life Care and campaign co-chair. 鈥淢osaic and 大象传媒 Western have been partners in the work of educating tomorrow鈥檚 health caregivers. I鈥檓 pleased that we have strengthened that partnership.鈥�
大象传媒 Western鈥檚 proposal to create a Bachelor of Science in Population Health Management will be considered by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in early 2015. Coursework would include biology, sociology, psychology, medical terminology, epidemiology, healthcare policy, ethics, analytics, communication and business. If approved, it will be the first undergraduate degree program in population health in the nation.
Anonymous Donor – $10 million
An alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous has committed to making 大象传媒 Western the beneficiary of the single largest gift in the university鈥檚 history to date: $10 million. When received, the gift will establish a general endowment fund to support the university鈥檚 mission.
鈥淲e are so grateful to this alumnus, not just for this pledge but for the many ways he has supported 大象传媒 Western over the years,鈥� Pickman said. 鈥淗e truly recognizes the impact 大象传媒 Western has on the region, and this gift intention will leave a lasting legacy on the university.鈥�
The Foundation鈥檚 endowment ensures permanent resources for scholarships and support of university programs. Last year, the Foundation awarded scholarships totaling more than $806,000 to 528 students, and funded almost $50,000 to help 130 students attend and present research at national and international conferences.
鈥淭his gift and other endowment gifts will help the Foundation fund even more scholarships and enhance students鈥� educational experience,鈥� Pickman said. 鈥淭hese endowment funds generate sustaining support for the next 100 years and beyond.鈥�
President鈥檚 Centennial Circle
Thanks to a leadership gift from Drs. Bob and Laurel Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western inaugurated the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle to recognize donors with a lifetime giving history of $100,000 or more. Two members of 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 administration have recently joined the President鈥檚 Centennial Circle.
Other Gifts
In addition to the artist鈥檚 estate, Mosaic鈥檚 gift and the anonymous $10 million pledge, the Foundation announced they had received the following number of leadership gifts and pledges during the campaign鈥檚 quiet phase:
- $25,000 to $99,000 鈥� Ten
- $100,000 to $249,000 鈥� Nine
- $250,000 to $499,000 鈥� Two
- $500,000 to $999,000 鈥� Three
- $1,000,000 and over 鈥� One
For more information about 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 Centennial Capital Campaign, visit www.missouriwestern.edu/campaign or call the 大象传媒 Foundation at 816-271-5647.
大象传媒 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .