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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (October 26, 2001) — College leaders on Friday announced the largest and most comprehensive capital campaign in the college’s history. The $30 million campaign is a comprehensive campaign that will increase endowment resources to provide new scholarships, strengthen current programs and facilities, develop new programs, and complete the Central Campus Project, which includes a new Campus Center facility.
“In light of recent world events, Milligan’s vision to develop Christian leaders to change lives and shape culture is more vital than ever before,” said Milligan President Don Jeanes. “If ever there was a time when the vision and mission of Milligan College was needed worldwide, it is now.”
The campaign — the Milligan College Campaign for Christian Leadership — was announced on the heels of the college’s announcement last April of a new vision statement, long-range strategic funding initiatives, and a new logo.
Todd Norris, vice president for institutional advancement, explained that the college has completed the leadership phase of the campaign and moves forward with 100 percent participation from the faculty and board. The Lead Gifts Phase is now complete, with $15 million committed to-date.
“As we began the lead gifts phase of the campaign, we knew that Milligan needed a campaign which would provide funding to transform the college,” said Norris. “This will be accomplished through building programs which enrich the student life and learning experience, through ongoing support to under-gird annual scholarship programs along with academic and campus life offerings, through dramatically increased endowment resources which provide new scholarships and support academic excellence, and through the development of new programs to advance the college’s vision with strength.”
Also propelling the campaign forward is the largest gift in the history of Milligan College, from a family who wishes to remain anonymous. Designated for the Central Campus Project, the gift has already allowed the college to renovate Derthick Hall, to envision a new campus commons, and to create plans for a new campus center to be located at the site of the current tennis courts, which would be moved to a site near the Fieldhouse.
Norris unveiled plans for the new Campus Center, which will include a welcome center, a new theatre and new facilities for campus life activities. The college hopes to break ground on the building within the next two years.
Another hallmark of the campaign, as outlined by Norris, is a $4.5 million Leadership Challenge Grant, provided by another anonymous donor. The gift was given to encourage others to increase their support of Milligan.
“Every new or increased gift during the campaign will count as a sign that the Milligan constituency is responding to this unprecedented challenge with their own vote of confidence in the future of Milligan College,” said Norris. “The public phase of the campaign is an opportunity for all of us to respond to this challenge.”
A volunteer leadership team for the campaign consists of church leaders, community leaders and alumni leaders from a variety of class eras and regions of the country.
“We know that any truly successful campaign should be about much more than fundraising,” said Norris. “Any truly successful campaign emanates from the center, from the source of an organization’s strength. At Milligan College, our center is the cross of Christ. Any success we achieve as a college will come not from our desire to gain status but in our desire to exalt Christ in all things.”
Four alumni and a current student presented the five broad objectives of the campaign at the luncheon.
Pat Magness, professor of humanities and English, announced that the campaign would be about “transformation. – The campaign will move beyond fundraising to transform the college in pervasive and lasting ways,” said Magness.
“Participation” was described by Bob Hayden, Class of 1980 and president of the Alumni Association. “Milligan’s alumni will participate in supporting the college through this campaign at levels that far exceed most other colleges.”
Rick Raines, Class of 1986 and a member of the Board of Advisers, described “Partnership – Milligan will reach out in partnership with our constituency, our community, and our churches in new ways where there is a common vision to change lives, shape culture, and build leadership.”
“Foundation” was announced by Louise Clites, Class of 1952 and a member of the Robert Milligan Society. “Milligan’s alumni and friends will build a foundation for the future of the college by establishing new endowments through their estate plans.”
The final objective is “Vision,” which was described by Nevan Hooker, Class of 2002 and president of the Student Government Association. “The vision will be our call to action and service to our community, our churches, and our world. We stand behind the campaign because of the vision that Milligan has given us to make a difference for Christ in this world,” said Hooker.
Also announced today was a new website design for the college, available at www.milligan.edu.
“This is an exciting time for Milligan College. We face many new challenges in our world. When we look around, we see the promise represented in these students – the light, the hope, the desire and passion to make a difference – we must leave here today encouraged and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this college,” said Jeanes.