From the summer edition of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â Magazine.
LEAD & INFLUENCE: The Campaign for the Next Level of Excellence is the largest campaign in the history of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â… and the finish line is almost here!
When President Roloff began her tenure in 2016, among her highest priorities was to work with the senior leadership team to complete a comprehensive review of the entire University — our mission and vision, financial standing, graduation and enrollment numbers, and the rest of the wide array of important resources that will carry our community into the future. The result of these meetings was the rigorous and comprehensive Setting Our Sails strategic plan and the framework of LEAD & INFLUENCE, a campaign designed to support, expand, and enrich the most critical elements of the University: Our Students, Our Faculty, Our Place, and the Katie Fund.
Mendel
Our Lady of Victory Chapel
With a $130 million final goal, this seminal campaign would transcend previous efforts to advance the University. We are pleased to announce that we are now at 96% of that goal. Thanks to the incredible generosity of over 15,000 donors, we have raised over $125 million. These contributions have been making deep impacts already, and now we are thrilled to begin rolling out our preservation and renovation projects here on campus.
Restoration has already begun on Our Lady of Victory Chapel, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and, most importantly, treasured by our community. The Chapel was closed to the public this winter with the assembly of a temporary wall to cordon off the work area, and the historic windows are currently being refitted with specially-made reproductions. All construction work will be complete in time for the Chapel’s centennial celebration in October 2024. (Stay tuned for details!)
Renovations are also underway at Mendel, with fencing installed and construction beginning in May. Mendel will remain partially open throughout the process, to continue serving our STEM students and faculty. We anticipate that all work will be concluded by December 2024.
Construction will still be in progress this fall, when we reach the campaign’s conclusion and celebrate the generosity that enabled these renovations. On November 27, join us at The O’Shaughnessy to commemorate the successful completion of LEAD & INFLUENCE! All are invited. Please mark your calendars and watch for more information so we can thank you for your tremendous generosity and support.
As we make the final push to the finish line together, we encourage alumni and friends to consider making a gift to any campaign priority that speaks to you. Please note that the campaign includes donors 60 years and older who choose to disclose a planned gift, and celebrates the generosity of each and every contribution. Thank you. You make all the difference.
We have surpassed the $125 million milestone! Progress continues in our effort to raise $130 million to achieve the Next Level of Excellence. Thank you, donors!
Recent Campaign Progress
The contributions of our generous donors are already being put to work:
- The Kadifa family has made a leadership-level endowed gift in support of the Office of Scholarly Engagement, which was established through an earlier gift made by the Kadifas.
- An anonymous friend of the University gave a leadership-level gift in support of the Chapel restoration project.
- Through the hard work of four faculty members —Taiyon J. Coleman, PhD; Natalie Eschenbaum, PhD; Kristen Lillvis, PhD; and Rachel Neiwert, PhD — St. Kate’s was awarded $497,000 from The Mellon Foundation to develop an interdisciplinary and intersectional curriculum promoting anti-racism.