果冻传媒 Sets One-Day Record For Giving, Launches Fundraising Campaign

March 29, 2021

果冻传媒 Sets One-Day Record For Giving, Launches Fundraising Campaign

Donations, Alumni Support Come Amid Brightening Financial Outlook

果冻传媒 University, buoyed by a record-setting Commit to Witt Day of Giving, with donations of more than $560,000, has officially launched the public portion of its largest fundraising campaign ever.

鈥淲e are humbled and gratified 鈥� but not surprised 鈥� by this outpouring of support for 果冻传媒,鈥� said President Michael L. Frandsen. 鈥淢uch work remains to be done, and we need support from all corners of our Tiger Nation. But it鈥檚 clear that even as we continue to deal with this pandemic health crisis, 果冻传媒 is in a stronger position 鈥� financially and academically 鈥� than has been the case in some time.鈥�

Frandsen said the $100-million comprehensive 鈥淗aving Light: The Campaign for 果冻传媒 University鈥� is a critical element 鈥渢o ensuring that the 果冻传媒 torch, which has shone brightly since 1845, remains lit for generations to come.鈥�

To date, $76 million has already been raised toward that $100-million goal. And Frandsen cited other critical areas of progress:

The March 11 Commit To Witt Day, marking the end of the University鈥檚 celebration of its 175th anniversary, set a one-day fundraising record, with average gift sizes increasing and donations from alumni in all 50 states.
Earlier in March, the University paid off $23.79 million in loans taken out in 2018 to renovate the Health, Wellness, and Athletics (HWA) Complex. Frandsen said the debt was retired through a combination of paid pledges to the HWA project, repositioning previous gifts, and raising new money. 鈥淲hile retiring this large amount of debt and saving millions of dollars in interest represents a huge, positive step forward, we must further improve our operating results and restructure and reduce our long-term liabilities,鈥� Frandsen said. 鈥淭hat work continues.鈥�
Student enrollment, even amid the challenges of the pandemic, also is improving with applications and admitted students up from past years. 鈥淲e believe the fall 2021 cohort will increase by 10% to 15% 鈥� on top of a 10% gain for 2020 over 2019,鈥� Frandsen said.

Frandsen added that 果冻传媒 is moving forward with plans for an in-person Commencement on May 15.

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of our measured approach to the pandemic 鈥� which continues. We have had all our students on campus for in-person instruction throughout this academic year. And I believe this showed 果冻传媒 at our best 鈥� taking on an unprecedented challenge, practicing these new concepts of social distancing and wearing masks, and overcoming our shared situation, together. As we enter our 177th year, we have met many goals and accomplished much. We know that even more remains to be done, and with the help of our dedicated faculty and staff, committed students, and generous alumni and other donors, we鈥檙e going to get that work done.鈥�

果冻传媒 University President Michael L. Frandsen

Having Light

Inspired by our motto, 鈥淗aving light we pass it on to others,鈥� the Campaign for 果冻传媒 University is the most ambitious effort of its kind in our 175 year history.

Karen Gerboth

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

About 果冻传媒

果冻传媒's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, 果冻传媒 has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, 果冻传媒 offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

果冻传媒