on campus - Article - Manhattan College

A2
Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign
Reaches $120 Million
Just three years ago, 750 alumni and guests of Manhattan
College gathered in the Grand Ballroom of The Waldorf=Astoria
in New York City in honor of the 2003 De La Salle medalist Gene
McGrath ’63, chairman and CEO of Con Edison, and to officially
launch the $150 million Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign. Fifty
million dollars had been committed at that juncture, during the
“quiet phase” of the fund-raising effort.
A campaign kickoff is a familiar and much-practiced ceremonial
forum. It generally includes an elegant dinner, the announcement
of pace-setting gifts and speeches of earnest and eloquent
commitment by campaign leaders.
From a pecuniary perspective, to do better than other campaigns
seems an apt aspirational statement for this campaign, considering
the goal of $150 million is three times Ascend Manhattan, the
College’s previous drive.
But while dollars are the language that capital campaigns speak,
the only language in which they can be understood is the language
of consequences. The Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign clearly
intends to be consequential: endowed chairs, student scholarship
endowment, a new student residence, technology and faculty
development funds. The end result will be a faculty that is larger,
stronger, more productive and more influential in its academic
disciplines; a student body that is singularly talented and diverse;
and a College that is a regional model in offering opportunities for
undergraduate students to develop reverence, wisdom and faith,
as well as specialized knowledge.
Advancing Manhattan
$150,000,000
$140,000,000
$130,000,000
$120,000,000
$110,000,000
$100,000,000
$90,000,000
$80,000,000
$70,000,000
$60,000,000
$50,000,000
$40,000,000
$30,000,000
$20,000,000
$10,000,000
Since that cold January night in 2003, the Sesquicentennial Capital
Campaign has demonstrated remarkable growth and resiliency.
The total stands at $120 million, as we begin the home stretch.
In commenting on the current status and the plans to conclude
the campaign by mid-2007, Mike McMorrow ’64, executive
director, said: “Thanks to an ever-growing list of generous donors,
we are rapidly approaching our final goal. But we still have a
distance to go. Toward that end, in the coming months every
Jasper will be given the opportunity to play some part in building
a better Manhattan.”
As part of a campaign volunteer training session recently, a
younger alumnus directed the following question to McMorrow:
“What is my part in this campaign?”
McMorrow responded: “You may be part of the fund-raising
effort in any (or all) of several ways. You may be among those
who: help make the campaign a success in your area or within
your class by assisting in arranging a campaign-related event;
call on others to ask for a contribution; interest a corporation
or foundation in Manhattan’s programs and needs; give careful
consideration to your own gift.”
In concluding his remarks, McMorrow said, “We very much
hope that you will take part in the campaign. We need you, your
help, advice and participation.”
GOAL: 150,000,000
06/01/2002 06/01/2003 06/01/2004 06/01/2005 12/31/2005 04/01/2006 Goal