AUBURN-OPELIKA CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

AUBURN - Auburn University publicly launched its second of 31 regional campaigns on Thursday, April 6, at the home of Gilmer and Dorry Ann Blackburn in Auburn. The Auburn-Opelika campaign is part of the $500-million It Begins at Auburn" fundraising effort for the university.

More than 250 prominent Auburn and Opelika alumni and friends gathered for the celebration. The Auburn-Opelika region has one of the highest concentrations of Auburn University graduates with 10,000. As such, the region’s campaign goal is also currently the largest at $5 million from individuals who have not already made a contribution to Auburn since the “It Begins at Auburn” campaign started. Other regional campaign goals include keeping alumni engaged and developing leadership and volunteers for Auburn University.

“The regional campaigns will expand the number of alumni giving to Auburn,” said Bob McGinnis, AU vice president for development. “They will unite the Auburn family in a common cause to support our students, faculty, research, facilities and programs.”

The evening’s program included an introduction by Auburn-Opelika Regional Campaign Co-Chair Jack Burkhalter about the huge impact Auburn has had on his life.

“I met my wife at Auburn, my children graduated from Auburn and I met most of my closest friends and business associates through my relationship with the university. This university has given me so much that I feel it is my turn to give it something in return,” said Burkhalter.

In addition to Burkhalter, student scholarship recipients Jaime Strickland and Kyle Creamer also spoke about their love for Auburn and their appreciation for both the education they have received and those who have helped them along the way.

Campaign Steering Committee member David McClary conveyed the importance of private funding, specifically in the form of endowments. Interim AU President Ed Richardson expressed the importance of regional campaigns.

“Auburn University is on its way to becoming one of the best public universities in this country,” Richardson said. “With the help of the entire Auburn family we will be able to further meet this goal.”

As Campaign Co-Chair, Nancy Bendinger is helping Auburn reach its goal.

“Auburn University is special to so many people for different reasons,” Bendinger said. “We each need to tap into that reason and look for ways we can give back to the university that has given so much to us.”

The remaining 29 regional campaigns will kickoff between now and February 2007. These campaigns will last from two to 12 months, with Auburn-Opelika’s lasting one year.

The “It Begins at Auburn” campaign encompasses all colleges and schools as well as the library, athletics, Auburn University Montgomery and the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Endowments for students, faculty, programs and unrestricted dollars make up 58 percent of the campaign's goal.

In addition to endowments, the campaign will also focus on facilities and equipment; campus beautification; research; and current operations. The campaign has raised more than $357 million, or 71 percent of the campaign’s goal.

Auburn University is a preeminent land-grant and comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 40 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama's largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

(Contributed by Kristen Jackson; photos available upon request.)

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