In early November, Ferris State University had achieved 97 percent of its comprehensive fundraising campaign goal, with nearly $78 million raised by Ferris alumni, faculty and staff, friends, and corporations and foundations.
Publicly launched in November 2017, the Now & Always campaign set a goal of $80 million to be raised by June 30, 2019. The campaign supports three broad university priorities: investing in students, program expansion and innovation, and building partnerships.
At the 20th annual Ferris Foundation for Excellence Benefit on Nov. 2, Shelly Pearcy, vice president for University Advancement and Marketing, announced that the campaign goal would be increased to $115 million and the timeframe extended through June 30, 2022.
Pearcy told the 650 supporters and guests gathered at Grand Rapids’ DeVos Place Convention Center that extending the campaign will accelerate its extraordinary progress and intensify the enthusiasm so many donors and alumni have for its impact on the university and students. Ferris President David Eisler shared similar sentiments.
“The response to the campaign has been both humbling and momentous. What we do here at Ferris is focused on our students—the opportunities we provide and the dreams they can achieve. Extending the campaign and increasing the goal will enable the university to attract even more gifts for scholarships – the first priority of the campaign. There has never been a better time than now to help us transform students’ lives,” Eisler said.
Since the inception of the Ferris Futures Scholarship Challenge dollar-for-dollar matching gift program in 2016, The Ferris Foundation has raised more than $5.67 million – more than $11 million with the match—in gift commitments toward new and existing scholarship endowments. More than 130 new scholarship endowments have been created.
“The campaign helps Ferris State University fulfill its educational mission —to provide faculty with the resources they need to build and deliver great academic programs. Our combined efforts build great futures for students who are prepared for success both in life and their chosen careers,” Eisler added.
Pearcy extended her appreciation to members of the Now & Always campaign cabinet in attendance, including co-chair Gary Granger, of Byron Center; Philip Hagerman, of Flint; Jim Klett of Lawrence; Dick Shaw, of Grand Rapids; Ken Theis, of St. Johns; and faculty emeritus Bob Friar, of Big Rapids. Other members include Paul Boyer, of Ada; Douglas Dommert, of Kalamazoo; Stephanie Leonardos, of Ada; Joseph Moreau, of Livonia; Dennis Nickels, of Grand Haven; Vivian Rogers Pickard, of Bloomfield Hills; Marge Potter, of Grand Rapids; co-chair Jeff Rowe, of Flushing; and faculty emeritus Robert Carter, of Big Rapids.
The most visible results of the campaign currently are the completion of a major expansion and renovation of the Swan Annex and ongoing construction of the Ken Janke Sr. Golf Learning Center at Katke Golf Course on the Big Rapids campus.
A goal of the extended campaign is to begin a second major phase of fundraising for Ferris’ College of Pharmacy. This extensive initiative follows the first Pharmacy campaign, which raised $11.7 million, exceeding its $9.4-million goal. The second phase of fundraising will allow additional renovations to the Hagerman Pharmacy Building, increase research and program development opportunities for faculty, and make scholarships available to every Pharmacy student.
Another new fundraising initiative that has emerged since the campaign began is the construction of a new on-campus research, archival and educational facility for expansion of the internationally-acclaimed Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. The new facility will provide more substantial space to present and preserve thousands of existing and future objects, artwork and other materials used to teach tolerance and promote social justice.
Two other new campaign initiatives will build on current centers of excellence at Ferris, including the Institute for Construction Education and Training and the Center for Athletics Performance.
Through the Institute for Construction Education and Training, Ferris is recognized as the primary training and certification partner for hot mix asphalt, soil density, and aggregate and materials testing by the state of Michigan and Michigan Department of Transportation. With significant leadership and financial support from multiple industry partners, Ferris intends to replace and expand the existing lab and instructional space.
A priority that remains from the first part of the campaign is to meet the fundraising goal for the expansion and renovation of Ferris’ Ewigleben Sports Complex, creating a new Center for Athletics Performance. The university is almost halfway toward this goal. The facility will include a new, larger weight room and additional locker rooms, team meeting spaces and coaches’ offices. The addition also will include the reconfiguration of the volleyball arena so the university can host NCAA tournaments.
For more information about the campaign, please visit ferris.edu/giving.