Colorado State University Reports $34 Million in Fundraising

Colorado State University announced today that it raised more than $34 million in total gifts and pledges for the 2001-2002 fiscal year- one of its highest totals ever despite the economic downturn following the events of Sept. 11.

"The continued growth of our fund-raising programs in the face of what we know are difficult economic times for supporters demonstrates a true dedication to the university," said Jean Rahn, executive director of Development. "These donors have shown that Colorado State is a priority, and we are grateful for their exceptional generosity this year."

Private gifts and pledges were received from 27,524 donors in fiscal year 2001-2002. Top cash gifts include a $5 million gift from the Monfort Family Foundation and two gifts totaling $6 million from Mrs. Barbara Cox Anthony and from the James M. Cox Jr. Foundation. Colorado State also received donations of equipment, including a gift of high-tech equipment from Veeco Instruments worth $1.5 million.

The $3 million gift from Mrs. Barbara Cox Anthony provides for an endowed chair within the Orthopaedic Research Center, and the $3 million from the James M. Cox, Jr. Foundation of Atlanta, Ga., was donated to establish a chair within the Animal Cancer Center. The two chairs will provide funding to attract and retain the best scientific minds and to increase applied research in veterinary and human health issues. The gifts were part of Colorado State’s initiative aimed at adding new endowed chairs. The university added a total of six new chairs and professorships totaling $12 million since the initiative began last year.

The $5 million gift from the Monfort Family Foundation enables Colorado State to create 10 new named professor positions, establish 30 new full-ride scholarships and add a faculty-in-residence program as well as a distinguished speaker series. The gift, which also supports the Monfort Scholars program created in 1999 with a $2.5 million endowment, brings the total donations from the Monfort family and its foundation to Colorado State University to more than $12.5 million.

The $1.5 million donation that Colorado State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering received from Veeco Instruments of Fort Collins was in the form of state-of-the-art equipment. The equipment will allow the department to enhance its prominent soft X-ray and optoelectronic research programs.