Marquette University Sets Fundraising Record Magis Campaign exceeds goal by $107 million Released: Aug. 16, 2005 With more than 50,000 individual donors, the seven-year Magis: The Campaign for Marquette raised a record $357 million, $107 million more than the initial goal of $250 million, Marquette University President Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J. announced tonight. It was the most successful comprehensive campaign in the university's history. "I am exceptionally grateful to all of our alumni, parents and friends who demonstrated their commitment to Marquette over the past seven years and made the Magis Campaign so successful,” said Father Wild. “Because of their generosity, Marquette is able to provide a transformational academic experience while contributing to the progress of the community around us. This campaign exceeded all expectations and has given us the gift of momentum to dream even bigger dreams for Marquette's future.” John Stollenwerk, a member of Marquette's board of trustees and president and CEO of Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corp., served as the chair of the campaign. "I am truly inspired by all the people that participated in the Magis Campaign," said Stollenwerk. “Their gifts have sparked a transformation at Marquette by offering more resources to students in the form of technology, scholarships and new programs and majors and to faculty in the form of endowed professorships and research grants.” Alumni, friends, parents, foundations and corporations contributed to improvements made to Marquette over the past seven years. Highlights include: The opening of three new buildings: the dental school, which has been recognized as one of the finest dental education facilities in the world; the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library, a technologically advanced resource for students which has seen usage jump more than 100% since its opening in 2003; and the state-of-the-art Al McGuire Center, which is the home court for women's basketball and volleyball, practice facilities for men's basketball, sports medicine facilities, and an academic center for student athletes. Dramatically improved the campus appearance with the planting of 200 trees, gateways, portals and new lighting, particularly along Wisconsin Avenue. Raised to nearly 450 the number of full or partially endowed scholarships—a 50 % increase from the pre- Magis number. New academic programs in Entrepreneurship, Restorative Justice, End of Life Care, Applied Investment Management and Real Estate. Creation of the Manresa Project to support programming that brings the Catholic, Jesuit mission of the university to life through retreats, workshops, leadership development, international conferences and academic courses. Endowed the dean's position in the College of Engineering plus three chairs and two professorships throughout the university. Record number of freshmen enrollment applications for four consecutive years, culminating with the 10,927 applications received for the 2005-2006 academic year. Rare copies of St. Augustine's De Civitate Dei (City of God) , St. Thomas Aquinas' Sancti Thome de Aquino Ordinis Predicatorum Super Epistolas Pauli and Jonathon Swift's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World (Gulliver's Travels) acquired by Special Collections at Raynor Memorial Libraries. Magis Campaign Milestones  1998 An anonymous donor makes the first Magis contribution—a $10 million challenge gift toward construction of the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library.  2000 Groundbreaking for the new Dental School , the first Magis-funded construction project to begin. Magis Campaign reaches $100 million.  2002 New Dental School opens and is quickly recognized as one of the finest dental education facilities in the world.  2003 Magis Campaign reaches $200 million. The John P. Raynor, S.J., Library opens and usage by students and faculty soon soars. Campus Beautification efforts advance as portals are installed along Wisconsin Avenue , 200 new trees are planted on campus, and attractive new building signage is installed. 2004 The women's basketball team opened with a win on their new homecourt at the Al McGuire Center. The Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences is named in honor of an $18 million gift from Klingler's estate—at that time, it represented the largest gift ever made to Marquette University. Magis Campaign reaches $300 million. 2005 The J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication is named in recognition of a $28 million gift from the couple, both Marquette alumni. The Diederichs' gift became the largest gift ever made to the university. The Campaign concludes, having raised $356,876,166 million—the largest campaign total in the university's history and far exceeding the original $250 million fund-raising goal. More than 50,000 alumni, parents and friends of Marquette contributed to the Magis Campaign. Office of Public Affairs Contacts Brigid O'Brien Miller Director of University Communication Phone: (414) 288-7445 Send e-mail Anne Broeker Sr. Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-0286 Send e-mail