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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2004

Birmingham-Southern completes campaign at $156 million after record giving year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Alumni and friends contributed a record more than $24.3 million to Birmingham-Southern in the current fiscal year as the college announced the completion of the largest major gifts campaign in the institution's history with more than $156 million in gifts and pledges.

The announcement was made yesterday (May 20) by Board of Trustees Chairman W. Michael Atchison at the group's spring meeting on the BSC campus.

Atchison announced that gifts and pledges to Phase II of Birmingham-Southern's 21st Century Campaign have topped the $81.4 million mark, well ahead of both the $64 million Phase II goal and the May 31, 2004, campaign deadline. Phase II was boosted by two record giving years at the college. The record $24.3 million in gifts and pledges received during the current fiscal year which ends May 31, 2004, was preceded by a then-record $22.3 million during the previous fiscal year.

“This is a tremendous demonstration of belief in the liberal arts academic mission of Birmingham-Southern College by individuals, corporations, and foundations across Birmingham, the state, and the nation,” said Atchison. “The contributions to this campaign already have transformed this campus and this college in many ways and they will continue to do so for many years to come.”

Phase I of The 21st Century Campaign began in 1995 and reached its $75 million goal in May 1999, well ahead of the January 2000 deadline.

The current Phase II began immediately in May 1999 with an initial goal of $58 million, which was exceeded in May 2003, well in advance of the May 2004 deadline. The goal was increased to $64 million in May 2003.

Gifts and pledges to both phases of the campaign topped $156 million as of May 20. It is the largest fund-raising effort in the institution's 148-year history.

Contributions to The 21st Century Campaign have helped fund the new Elton B. Stephens Science Center, Larry D. Striplin Jr. Fitness and Recreation Center, Edward L. and Corinne Norton Campus Center, Bill and Lyndra Daniel Residence Hall, William and Julia Edwards Bell Tower, Fraternity Row for the college's six national fraternities, BSC Softball Park, and renovation of the Neal and Anne Berte Humanities Center, among many other renovations and additions.

The campaign also is funding many academic programmatic needs, new scholarships and faculty professorships, faculty salary enhancements, technology upgrades and additions, library acquisitions, athletics, the endowment, and unrestricted needs.

“As a result of a Towards the 21st Century strategic plan implemented in 1995, Birmingham-Southern undertook an ambitious capital improvement campaign over the last five years,” Atchison explained. “The more than $90 million building effort resulted in an almost new campus which puts us in an enviable position of being five years ahead of most other higher education institutions in this country, most of which will have to undertake similar capital improvement initiatives in the near future.

“But just as important are the many other academic program, scholarship, faculty, technology, library, and other enhancements and improvements that this campaign has funded and will continue to fund well into the future.”

In his report to the Board of Trustees, Atchison also highlighted the college's record-setting 41 percent alumni giving percentage for the calendar year ended Dec. 31, 2003, the second straight year of over 40 percent alumni participation.

Atchison also singled out the Phase II campaign leadership, which included BSC Trustees Dr. Peter D. Bunting, Charles W. Daniel, T. Morris Hackney, Donald E. Hess, Philip C. Jackson Jr., Donald M. James, Benny M. LaRussa Jr., Thomas H. Lowder, Dr. Jerry E. Sisson, James T. Stephens, and Larry D. Striplin Jr.