DALLAS-FORT WORTH AUBURN UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

DALLAS-FORT WORTH - Auburn University launched its Dallas-Fort Worth regional campaign on Thursday, April 20, at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving. The regional campaign is one of 31 that will take place across the country over the next year as part of the $500-million “It Begins at Auburn” fundraising effort for the university.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Region has 1,600 Auburn University graduates.

The goals of the regional campaigns are to have alumni and friends of the university contribute to the campaign, to keep alumni engaged and to develop leadership and volunteers for Auburn University, according to Bob McGinnis, AU’s vice president for development.

“The regional campaigns will expand the number of alumni giving to Auburn, and unite the Auburn family in common cause to support our students, faculty, research, facilities and programs,” McGinnis said.

The evening’s program was presided over by Darlene Woodall and Dave Oberman, co-chairs of the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Campaign, and attended by Dallas-Fort Worth alumni and friends.

“It all began at Auburn for me,” said Woodall. “Now it is my time to give something back for the future of Auburn. This campaign’s success depends on alumni and friends of Auburn University.”

Hank Hayes, campaign steering committee member, talked about the importance of private funding, specifically in the form of endowments. Al Amerson, regional campaign committee member for Dallas-Fort Worth, spoke of the many reasons why he and his wife, Stacy, support Auburn University.

Auburn University Provost, John Heilman, said, “The university has come a long way in the past 150 years and many exciting projects are currently underway. This campaign will help bring Auburn the resources necessary to ensure continued academic excellence.”

The remaining regional campaigns will kickoff between now and February 2007. Each campaign will last from two to 12 months, with Dallas-Fort Worth’s lasting six months.

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 $361 million, or 72 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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