Private Gifts, Commitments Top $59 Million

by Press Release - Mon Sep 25 12:09:52 GMT-04:00 2006

CLEMSON - Private giving to Clemson University academics and athletics topped $59 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The Clemson University Foundation received $36.2 million in support of academic programs, a 32.6 percent increase over the previous year. The total includes $29.2 million in cash gifts, $6.4 million in pledges and $582,972 in gifts-in-kind.

The overall private giving total also includes more than $5 million added to Clemson's inventory of planned gifts and bequests.

"Alumni and friends of Clemson take a lot of pride in their enthusiastic support of our university. Their generosity continues to make our academic and athletic programs among the most respected in the country," said Clemson President James Barker. "Private support is crucial to improving quality at Clemson, which in turn, makes for a better South Carolina."

IPTAY, which raises money for annual athletic scholarships, received $13.7 million for the year, and capital and programmatic gifts to athletics totaled $4.8 million.

"It is so exciting to see support for Clemson on the rise. Every donation helps Clemson move closer to achieving its goals, both on and off the field," said IPTAY director Bert Henderson.

The percentage of alumni who gave to Clemson increased to 27.3 percent, up from the previous year's 26 percent.

"It is great to see support for Clemson continuing to increase. This university started as a gift to the state from Thomas Green Clemson, and private gifts will be essential as Clemson continues to move forward in becoming a top 20 university," said Brian O'Rourke, director of development and alumni affairs at Clemson.

Gift highlights from the year include a $3 million commitment from Timken to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, $2.8 million from the Sirrine Foundation to fund an endowed chair in advanced materials fibers, a $1.4 million gift from BB&T to establish the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism, a $1 million commitment from Wachovia to the Emerging Scholars and Call Me MISTER programs and a $1 million gift from Vivian Reeves of Tampa, Fla., for the WestZone Initiative.

Cash and Pledges to Clemson University in 2005-06

Clemson University Foundation $36,257,720

Planned gifts/bequests to CUF $5,092,592

IPTAY $13,697,000

Capital/program gifts to athletics $4,856,714

Total $59,904,026