FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 25, 2011 #149
Contact: Laura Byerley
(816) 235-1592
UMKC Foundation celebrates university's third-best fundraising year
A record number of 19,281 donors contribute $30.13 million
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The UMKC Foundation raised $30.13 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year - the third best fundraising year in UMKC's history. A record number of 19,281 donors contributed to the UMKC Foundation during the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which ended on June 30."Despite the economic downturn, the UMKC Foundation enjoyed a successful year with a record number of donors contributing a total of $30.13 million," said Alan Atterbury, chairman of the UMKC Foundation board.
The UMKC Foundation also reported a record number of 42,004 gifts, with nine gifts worth $1 million or more. The UMKC School of Education received three gifts of $1 million or more. Warren H. Wheelock, professor emeritus; and Connie J. Campbell, School of Education alumna - provided a $1 million gift to fund the Warren Wheelock Scholarship in Reading Education, which prepares reading teachers. Sprint Foundation provided a $1 million gift to fund an endowed professorship for the upcoming Urban Education Research Center. John Sherman, founder, chief executive officer and president of Inergy, LP and member of the UMKC Trustees and UMKC Foundation Boards; and Marny Sherman, civic leader and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cristo Rey Kansas City, provided another gift to support the creation of the Urban Education Research Center. The Center will research local issues and ways to improve conditions in urban schools and communities, as well as the effectiveness of the School of Education's teacher preparation and other professional education programs. The research can then be applied on a national level, as well.
Alumni Fund totals increased to a record $721,627. The UMKC Foundation Endowment grew 22.7 percent from $17.6 million to $21.6 million.
"Our emphasis for next year will be announcing the campaign for UMKC," said Murray Blackwelder, president of the UMKC Foundation.
"The UMKC Foundation is giving the University the momentum we need for accomplishing our goals for the future," said UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton.
This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).
