SUNY Potsdam's Take the Lead Campaign Surpasses $32 Million Goal

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SUNY Potsdam’s Take the Lead Campaign has exceeded its new goal of $32 million, with six months left to go.

POTSDAM, NY (01/15/2016)(readMedia)-- The State University of New York at Potsdam will enter its bicentennial year with a very special "birthday gift" to mark the 200th anniversary of the institution's founding. Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam has already surpassed its goal of raising $32 million for SUNY Potsdam, with less than six months left to go.

As of today, the Take the Lead Campaign has raised $32.6 million in donations and pledges, and all four campus campaign priorities have reached their goals as well.

"Congratulations to President Esterberg and the entire SUNY Potsdam campus on already surpassing its campaign goal, and just in time to kick off the College's bicentennial anniversary," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "This achievement is a true testament to the value of a SUNY Potsdam education and to the tremendous impact that the College has not only on the students, faculty, and staff it serves, but the entire North Country community."

The gift that tipped the campaign past its goal was received from Anna Collins '67 and Susan Morrison, who provided a leadership planned gift commitment to fund a scholarship in their name. When realized, their gift will fund eight scholarships in perpetuity at the College.

"I am humbled by the incredible generosity exemplified by the Take the Lead Campaign. SUNY Potsdam alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends continue to break records and shatter all expectations to support the institution they love," said President Kristin G. Esterberg. "I can't think of a better way to open our bicentennial year. We are particularly grateful to Anna Collins '67 and Sue Morrison, without whose leadership and generosity this milestone would not have been surpassed so early."

Since its public launch in 2013, the Take the Lead Campaign has exceeded all expectations, blowing past the original goal of $25 million and now surpassing the new goal of $32 million announced last spring. The campaign's final phase, the Third Century Challenge, also set goals of gaining 2,016 new donors and increasing unrestricted giving to the College. Since Charter Day in March 2015, the campaign has logged 1,336 new donors to the campaign, and is on target to reach the goal of 2,016 by June 2016.

Since the launch of the Take the Lead Campaign, SUNY Potsdam has raised:

• $11.2 million for academic excellence,
• $8 million for scholarships,
• $8 million for The Annual Fund for Potsdam,
• $5 million for student experiences, and
• $400,000 for other campus needs.

In addition, more than 38 percent of all gifts to the campaign have been for the arts.

"The Take the Lead Campaign just continues to gain momentum, and even though we've exceeded our most recent goal, that's no reason to slow down! With six months left to go, I can't wait to see how far this energy and excitement can take us," said Campaign National Co-Chair and Potsdam College Foundation Board Vice President Michael Galane '74, who is also a vice president for the Hewlett-Packard Company.

So far, the campaign has garnered 12,852 donors, including: 175 Leadership Donors (giving $20,000 or more), 55 Chancellor's Circle Donors (giving $100,000 or more) and eight gifts of $1 million or more.

Donors have also established 133 new endowments (at the $20,000 level or above) during the campaign, of which 87 are designated for scholarships.

The internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe '92 serves as Campaign Honorary Co-Chair, along with bestselling novelist T.C. Boyle '68. Famed lyric soprano Lisa Vroman '79 serves alongside Galane as a National Chair of the campaign.

Rounding out the Campaign Steering Committee are: Lynne Boles '74, William Flynn '70, Deborah Diefendorf Hind '75, Gary Hind '77, Janice Rowlands Johnson '56, Christine Meda '70 and J. Richard Munro.

To find out more about Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/campaign.

2016 will be a year of celebrations at SUNY Potsdam, as the College marks its bicentennial and rings in its third century. Special presentations, lectures and a big birthday celebration on Charter Day, as well as a Reunion Weekend bash for the history books, are all in store. For more information about SUNY Potsdam college history or the bicentennial celebrations, visit www.potsdam.edu/200.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges-and the oldest institution within SUNY. As the College marks its bicentennial in 2016, SUNY Potsdam will celebrate a 200-year legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and leadership in the arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community is nearing the completion of Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which has already raised $32 million for scholarships and programs.

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