Clemson Announces $79.5 Million in Private Gifts for 2007-2008

by Press Release - Thu Jul 24 10:28:14 GMT-04:00 2008

CLEMSON ? Private gifts to Clemson University totaled $79.5 million in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

The total includes $58.5 million given to the Clemson University Foundation to support academics and $21 million to IPTAY.

The foundation received $38.5 million in cash, $4.58 million in pledges and $2.65 million in gifts-in-kind. These totals include $4.6 million raised for athletic capital projects. Clemson also added $12.8 million to its inventory of planned gifts.

Clemson saw an increase in alumni donations, with 28.5 percent making gifts. This percentage continues to keep Clemson ranked among the top in the country in alumni participation. Alumni gave a total of $11.5 million to the Clemson University Foundation, a 20 percent increase over last year?s amount.

?We are very grateful to our donors for their support of our students, our faculty, our facilities and for helping to enhance the overall Clemson experience,? said Brian O?Rourke, director of development and alumni affairs. ?Their investments are making a difference every single day on our campus.?

The number of corporations making gifts to Clemson also is on the rise, with 1,051 corporations giving to the university, up from 842 last year.

Highlights of the year include a $1 million gift from Milton and Betty Holcombe of Dallas for the Milton W. Holcombe Electrical and Computer Engineering Department; $1.5 million from Carolina First, given through The South Financial Group Foundation, for a gallery at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research; $1 million from AdvanceSC and $1 million from Duke Energy for an advanced materials innovation center; a building and land valued at $1.6 million from Michael Cheezem and family that will house the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI); $1 million from the Osher Endowment to support OLLI; and $1.25 million from Sam and Patricia Deal of Holden Beach, N.C., to support research on alternative energy.

IPTAY, which raises money for athletic scholarships, raised $21,018,962, an increase of $5.6 million over last year, due in part to the new seat-equity plan.

?Our donors are our most valuable asset. We recognize this fact and sincerely thank them for their benevolence. Supporting student-athletes is a great way to support Clemson and to impact the life of another human being," said Bill D?Andrea, senior associate athletic director for external affairs. ?The seat-equity plan was not designed or implemented to raise more revenue, but rather to ensure equity among our donors and their eligibility for seating and parking. The competitive element of this process reflects the competitive spirit of athletics, while also providing increasing revenue streams to support our individual student-athletes. Our donors continue to support our student-athletes and our main purpose.?

IPTAY?s membership stands at 16,256, a slight increase from last year.

?The fact that our membership has increased speaks a great deal to our donors? devotion, loyalty and passion for Clemson,? said D?Andrea.

IPTAY is the oldest athletic fundraising organization of its kind in the country and will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year.