WMU News

Gifts to WMU since July total more than $2 million

Oct. 27, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University received cash gifts totaling more than $2 million during the first quarter of the 2000-01 fiscal year, which began July 1.

The total of $2,007,265 received in July, August and September is $725,747 less than the amount received in the fiscal first quarter one year ago because of a $1 million pledge payment that has not been recorded yet this year.

According to a report presented to the WMU Board of Trustees at its Oct. 27 meeting, current and deferred cash gifts received by the WMU Foundation during the first three months of the 2000-01 fiscal year totaled $1,977,952. An additional $29,313 in cash gifts was received by the Paper Technology Foundation, which supports the internationally known paper programs at WMU. All gifts to Western Michigan University are received through these two foundations.

Total gifts to the University, including non-cash gifts such as equipment and property, totaled $2,678,809 for the first quarter of the 2000-01 fiscal year. That represents a decrease of only $152,000 compared to the fiscal first quarter of 1999-2000. The 1999-2000 total included the $1 million pledge payment, which has not been received yet this year.

Among the larger gifts received during July, August and September were several given anonymously.

An anonymous gift of $220,110 was made to support the Environmental Institute Research Projects Fund. Anonymous gifts also were received to support the following: $12,110 for a memorial business scholarship; $22,321 for an endowed scholarship for mathematics; $22,000 for the College of Fine Arts; $15,000 for the Bronco volleyball team's trip to Europe; $20,000 for the Lulu Rara Avis Modern Dance Fund; and $22,321 for International Student Services.

A distribution of $510,882 was received from the estate of alumna Merze Tate for the Merze Tate Endowed Medallion Scholarship.

Betty Cinq-Mars of Kalamazoo contributed a total of $20,000 for Cinq-Mars and Cinq-Mars Jarvis scholarships in the Department of Finance and Commercial Law.

Two $15,000 contributions to the Food Marketing Program also were noted in the report. They were made by Georgia Pacific Foundation Inc. and by the Wal-Mart Foundation.

DaimlerChrysler Corp. contributed $25,000 to the Integrated Supply Management Program, an interdisciplinary major with courses in both the Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences also received $25,000 for its equipment fund from the Austin Company of Cleveland.

Distributions from two estates were received during the period. A gift of $11,748 from the Fern A. Rodewald Estate, will go to the Department of Blind Rehabilitation, and a gift of $33,033 from the estate of Ruth M. Scherer will go to the Milton E. and Ruth M. Scherer Endowment in the College of Arts and Sciences.

At its Oct. 27 meeting, the Board of Trustees was also advised of a previously unreported gift received in June. Mr. and Mrs. William J. Maze Jr., of Kalamazoo contributed $25,000 to the William J. Maze Jr., Beta Alpha Psi Accountacy Scholarship in the Haworth College of Business.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 616 387-8400, thomas.myers@wmich.edu


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