AUBURN UNIVERSITY’S ORLANDO CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

ORLANDO - Auburn University publicly launched its Orlando regional campaign on Thursday, May 31, at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge. The regional campaign is one of 28 that will take place across the country as part of the $500 million “It Begins at Auburn” fundraising effort for the university.

Prominent Orlando alumni and friends gathered for the celebration. The campaign goal for the region is to raise funds for academic and athletic programs. Other goals include keeping alumni engaged and developing volunteer leaders 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 and faculty.”

The evening’s program was led by regional campaign co-chairs Terrell Yon and BJ Martin. Martin spoke of the importance of alumni involvement in achieving success for Auburn’s current campaign.

“Where the future of our beloved university is concerned, it begins with each of us and success will depend, in large measure, on the core group of alumni and friends who support Auburn’s vision for the future,” said Martin.

Dean Timothy Boosinger discussed the importance of continued giving to Auburn. “Auburn University is on its way to becoming one of the best public universities in this country,” Boosinger said. “With the help of the entire Auburn family we will be able to meet this goal.”
The remaining regional campaigns will kickoff between now and the fall of 2007. These campaigns will last from two to six months.

The “It Begins at Auburn” Campaign encompasses all colleges and schools as well as the AU libraries and museums, athletics and Auburn University Montgomery. Endowments for student scholarships, faculty, programs and unrestricted dollars make up 58 percent of the campaign's goal.

In addition to endowments, the campaign also will focus on facilities and equipment; campus beautification; research; and current operations. The campaign has raised more than $486 million, or 97 percent of the campaign’s goal.

(Contributed by Kristen Jackson. Photos available upon request.)

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Auburn University is a top-50 ranked public university that has provided instruction, research and outreach to benefit the state and nation for more than 150 years. A more than $4 billion economic impact on the state-including more than $2.4 billion in providing jobs and people resources-demonstrates AU’s commitment to this mission. AU has more than 214,000 alumni, and provides 130 degree options to nearly 23,500 graduate and undergraduate students.

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