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UH CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN ACHIEVING GOALS RIGHT ON TRACK

"We are delighted that people from all walks of life have stepped forward to support the University of Hawaiʻi in this critical campaign, and we are looking forward to our continued efforts to unite our donors' passions with the university's aspirations. As we move forward into the final phase of this campaign we are committed to making the most out of this momentum to help our university fulfill its powerful potential."

(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) — On July 1, 2002, the historic Centennial Campaign for the University of Hawaiʻi system was launched and scheduled to continue until June 30, 2009. The private fundraising goal as approved by the Board of Regents is $250 million. Today the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is happy to announce that they are crossing over the initial goal, and continuing in their campaign fundraising efforts until the conclusion of the campaign in June 2009.

The Centennial Campaign was launched to celebrate 100 years of public higher education in Hawaiʻi and benefits the ten University of Hawaiʻi campuses. Its fundraising efforts have centered around four priorities: advancing academic excellence, enhancing the student experience, fulfilling the UH research mission and funding additional projects.

Campaign Highlights:

• As of October 31, 2008 Community Colleges have raised $26 million with 15,000 donors giving 28,000 gifts.
  
  
• At UH West Oahu, 741 donors made more than 1,700 gifts totaling $426,000.
  
  
• UH Hilo has raised $10.8 million with 5,800 donors contributing more than 10,000 gifts.
  
  
This includes $3.15 million for the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center.


• Nearly 67,000 donors have made more than 153,000 gifts to UH Mānoa, totaling $184 million.

In the light of current economic challenges, campaign leadership is more committed than ever to see the Centennial Campaign through to its successful conclusion to help position the University of Hawaiʻi and our state, for the future.

"Education is part of the solution to today's challenges," said Barry Weinman, Centennial Campaign Chairman. "It is paramount that we provide a quality education for our underemployed and undereducated residents." Weinman, who also serves as Investment Chair of the UHF Board of Trustees, said he believes private investment in our students is crucial.

"We must redouble our efforts," said UHF Board of Trustees Chair C. Scott Wo. "With state and federal funding stretched and demand for public education increasing, we must rely more than ever on the generosity of our donors."

Wo expressed his gratitude to the Centennial Campaign Cabinet members: Senator Daniel Inouye, Honorary Co-Chair; Barry Weinman, Co-Chair; John Dean; Gary Galiher; Audrey Karr; Howard Karr; Bert Kobayashi; James Lally; Lynn Lally; Dorvin Leis; Diane Ono; Barry Taniguchi; Virginia Weinman; David McClain, UH System President; Donna Vuchinich; UH Foundation President and CEO; and Kathy Nelson, UH Foundation Vice President for Development.

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation Mission: To unite our donors' passions with the University of Hawaiʻi's aspirations to benefit the people of Hawaiʻi and beyond. We do this by raising private philanthropic support, managing private investments and nurturing donor and alumni relationships. www.uhf.hawaii.edu

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation is an independent, university-related, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise private funds according to priorities determined by the academic leadership of the University of Hawaiʻi and approved by the Board of Regents. Founded in 1955, the Foundation provides a full range of fund raising and alumni relations services for all ten UH campuses. Please visit www.uhf.hawaii.edu.