SLU Receives Record Amount In Gifts, Over $18 Million



A List
8/19/02

SLU RECEIVES RECORD AMOUNT IN GIFTS, OVER $18 MILLION

CANTON - Total giving to St. Lawrence University from private sources 
reached $18,813,535 in fiscal year 2001-2002 (which ended June 30, 2002). 
It is the largest amount of gift income ever received by the University 
in one fiscal year, topping the previous record set in 1999-2000 by 
some 16 percent.
	In addition to the increase in gift income, fund-raising 
success also came to the University through progress on Campaign 
St. Lawrence and significant pledges for other purposes.
	Gift support came from 9,639 donors, including 1,043 from the 
North Country region. Many of the gifts also benefit programs that 
affect the area and its residents:
	- To augment the $5.4 million St. Lawrence awards each year 
in scholarship aid to students from the North Country, $292,784 was 
received in expendable scholarship aid and $3.6 million in scholarship 
endowment aid.
	- ConAgra Foods Foundation committed $1 million to establish 
the Philip B. Fletcher Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of Fletcher, 
a 1954 graduate of St. Lawrence and former chairman and chief executive 
officer of ConAgra Foods Inc. A native of Carthage, New York, Fletcher 
died in 2000; the scholarship will benefit talented students with 
financial need, with first preference given to those from Carthage, and 
second preference to those from Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
	- Giving to the University continued to support Advantage Saints, 
which enabled the construction of athletic facilities used by area 
schools and residents. The Section 10 high school outdoor track and 
field classic was held on the Merrick-Pinkard Track at St. Lawrence; 
local lacrosse teams have used the University's Astroturf North Country 
Field; and Appleton Arena is used by area youth hockey and 
figure-skating groups.
	- Support for internships benefited not only St. Lawrence 
students, but also the area agencies and organizations in which they 
worked, including social services, not-for-profit agencies, correctional 
facilities and government offices.
	- The family of a St. Lawrence University alumna established the 
Ellen Cuthbert Burt '42 Endowment for North Country Education, which will 
fund an annual symposium at St. Lawrence on the intersection of issues 
in economic development, environmental protection and education; 
University/school partnerships in science, mathematics and 
environmental education involving annual summer in-service experiences 
for North Country science and mathematics teachers; scholarship 
support for North Country teachers and administrators seeking and 
needing further graduate-level education; and support for a new initiative 
with Clarkson University to establish the Educational Leadership 
Academy of Northern New York (ELANNY), whose focus will be educational 
leadership, rather than educational administration.
	- Unrestricted gifts supported the Canton Initiative, the 
University's program of co-investment in the community towards projects 
of mutual benefit. Among the projects that the Canton Initiative has 
supported are the construction of the new fire station; a canoe launch; 
the development, improvement or expansion of several downtown businesses; 
the re-location of the headquarters of Traditional Arts of Upstate New York; 
and construction or renovation of residences through the local chapter 
of Habitat for Humanity.	 
	President Daniel F. Sullivan commented, "In this very difficult 
year for America following September 11, 2001, and with our economy in 
recession, this level of giving to St. Lawrence speaks to the fundamental 
centrality of the University in the lives of its alumni, parents, and 
friends. Our gratitude for their generosity is very, very deep."
	"The generous gifts we have received this year from our North 
Country alumni, parents and friends make it possible for St. Lawrence 
to further improve the education provided to our students," Vice President 
for University Advancement Michael P. Archibald said. "Many who attend 
from this region, and elsewhere, would find it impossible to come to 
St. Lawrence at all were it not for this outstanding support of the 
University. For this, we extend a special thanks to all of our North 
Country supporters."
	Other fund-raising highlights for the year include:
	- Campaign St. Lawrence, the University's ongoing fundraising 
initiative started in 1997 to raise $130 million by December 31, 2002, 
grew from $100 million to $122 million in total commitments.
	- A commitment from Sarah Johnson '82, of Hillsborough, CA, of 
$10 million to construct a new biology building.
	- A donation from Dr. Lester Millard '39, of Canton, of over 
$1.3 million as   a charitable gift annuity for facilities, scholarships 
for students from Canton and other, unrestricted uses.
	- A commitment from Lynn '68 and Terry '69 Birdsong, of Greenwich, 
CT, of $1.5 million to establish the Birdsong Professorship in the Arts.
	- A commitment of $1.5 million from an anonymous parent, to 
construct townhouse-style housing for St. Lawrence seniors.
	- A $1 million grant awarded by The Freeman Foundation to 
establish the Asian Studies Initiative at St. Lawrence.

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