As the final days counted down on Transformations: The Campaign for Western New England College, College officials informed donors at a Campaign celebration on June 3 that more than $23 million had been raised in the multi-year fundraising effort.

The College saluted donors for their support of the Campaign, the largest fundraising initiative ever undertaken by the institution. The Campaign, which has produced some of the largest individual gifts in the College’s history—and secured $800,000 from The Kresge Foundation in fulfillment of a challenge grant issued by the Foundation—formally concluded on June 30. A video of the Campaign can be viewed by clicking here. Also, see the photo album/slide show.

The goals of Transformations: The Campaign for Western New England College were to increase student financial aid, enhance academic quality and student enrichment, and support the College’s Annual Fund.

The Campaign exceeded its $20 million goal by 15 percent. “Tonight is about celebrating the success of our Campaign, and it is about giving thanks,” said College president Dr. Anthony S. Caprio, pictured at the event with Trustee and Campaign Cochair Kevin S. Delbridge ’77. “We would not be here without the generosity and hard work of the people in this room and thousands of others.”

Campaign donations have already been put into action in the form of the new entrance, new wing, and renovation of the Law Center, the addition to the D’Amour Library, expanded athletic facilities, and renovations to the St. Germain Camps Center. “Less obvious are the 79 new scholarships that were created by donors during the Campaign, including 54 endowed and 25 annual scholarships,” said Dr. Caprio. The College now has 130 named, endowed scholarships that will provide financial aid to generations of Western New England College students.

The Campaign also enabled the College to create new courses, a collaborative program known as the Law and Business Center of Advancing Entrepreneurship, and equipment for laboratories and classrooms. For example, in September the College will open a Collaborative Product Realization Laboratory with new high-end computer aided design (CAD) equipment, thanks to a $150,000 grant from The George I. Alden Trust. This is the largest project, in terms of equipment acquisition and facilities renovation, to occur at the School of Engineering since Sleith Hall was built in 1973.

Donors at the celebration also listened to remarks from such Campaign leaders as Campaign Cochairs and College Trustees Kevin S. Delbridge ’77 and Donald G. Campbell ’73/G’79, and Trustee Chairman John M. O’Brien III ’74.

Dr. Caprio, while noting the success of the Greater Springfield Campaign Committee, also pointed out that two-thirds of the total dollars raised during the Campaign came from donors outside the greater Springfield region. “I think this is very significant, and marks a change in the breath of support from the College,” he said. “As we gain national reputation and with 39,000 alumni all over the globe, Western New England College has begun to tap into a national donor base and to bring philanthropic resources into Springfield as never before.”

Alumni, Trustees, employees of the College, corporations, and foundations were also saluted for their record-shattering donations. Trustee giving exceeded $5.4 million, almost one-quarter of the Campaign total. Corporate giving $5.1 million, and foundation grants accounted for $3.1 million.

“When I reflect on the accomplishments of this Campaign, I keep coming back to the sense of optimism and the can-do spirit that prevails at Western New England College,” said Dr. Caprio. “We’ve always had it, but I think the accomplishments of the Campaign have strengthened this aspect of our institutional personality. There is a mindset, I think, that just about anything is possible for us. We have both the momentum and confidence to confront the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us. Western New England College will continue to move, grow, transform.”