Gifts to WMU up from one year ago
Dec. 12, 2003
KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University received more than $9.4 million in gifts during the first five months of the University's 2003-04 fiscal year, an increase of $614,000 or 6.5 percent over the same period the previous year.
According to a report presented to the WMU Board of Trustees at its Dec. 12 meeting, the University received $9,427,552 in gifts between July 1 and Nov. 30. For the same five months in 2002, WMU received $8,813,035.
All gifts to the University are received through the WMU Foundation or the Paper Technology Foundation, which supports the internationally known paper programs at WMU. For the 2003-04 fiscal year through Nov. 30, the WMU Foundation reported current and deferred cash gifts totaling $7,828,840 and non-cash gifts valued at $1,476,906, for a total of $9,305,746. The Paper Technology Foundation reported cash gifts totaling $53,046 and non-cash gifts valued at $68,760, for a total of $121,806.
Among the major gifts received since the previous report to the trustees Sept. 12, were unrestricted gifts of $25,000 from the estate of Gwen Frostic and $50,000 from the estate of J. Michael Kemp. The Frostic gift is part of the previously announced $13 million bequest from the famed alumna. Kemp, who died May 23, was a former WMU trustee and Kalamazoo attorney. He is credited with creating the University's prestigious Medallion Scholarship program.
The Everett and Marian Holden Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education received a gift of $215,000 from the Holden Trust. The Holdens, both deceased, were WMU alumni. Everett attended WMU in the early 1940s, and Marian earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1942.
Also noted in the report was a gift from the Kellogg Co. of Battle Creek, Mich. The company contributed $50,000 to the Food Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business.
Several gifts went to programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Omnova Solutions Foundation of Fairlawn, Ohio, made gifts totaling $35,000 for scholarships in printing management and marketing. General Dynamics Corp. of Sterling Heights, Mich., gave $25,000 for the General Dynamics Land Systems Academic Excellence Award. The Christman Co. of Lansing, Mich., contributed $20,000 for an endowed scholarship in civil and construction engineering.
The gift report also included news of a gift from Edward J. and Stephanie M. Fletcher of Kalamazoo, who contributed $10,000 in memory of Stephanie's mother, Rose Iciek, for a scholarship in elementary and secondary education.
WMU's Mike Gary Athletic Fund received gifts of $10,000 each from the Kaleward Group of Kalamazoo and from Carmen and Lyndon Cronen of Portage, Mich.
In addition, a previously announced gift from Target Stores of West Michigan was noted. The $15,000 gift supported the Buster Bronco Family Series at Miller Auditorium.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu