Item by Jim Bishop
Eastern Mennonite University has received $5,211,528 in total contributions for the 2007-08 fiscal year ending June 30, a 3.7 percent increase over the previous year.
Kirk L. Shisler, vice president for advancement, reported that contributions of $1,857,265 to the University Fund set a new record, surpassing the 2007 annual fund total of $1,764,068 by $93,197 or 5.3 percent. “We are very grateful to our loyal alumni and friends for their increased support, especially in the midst of an uncertain economic climate,” Shisler added.
In addition to a successful year for EMU’s annual fund, Shisler reported that giving to EMU’s endowment fund was also up. Gifts to the endowment totaled $1,102,162 representing an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. According to Shisler, this was the second year in the past 10 when gifts to the EMU endowment surpassed the $1 million mark.
A combination of outright gifts and bequests from donors’ estates accounted for the contributions to EMU’s endowment fund. For example, EMU’s seminary benefited from a gift of $338,000 to establish an endowed fund for its clinical pastoral education program, which prepares students to serve in a hospital ministries.
Among the bequests EMU received this past year was an estate gift from the late Dr. Daniel B. Suter, who pioneered EMU’s biology and pre-med program. Suter’s bequest of $77,325 has been added to the Daniel B. Suter Chair in support of scholarships for biology majors at EMU.
During the 2007-08 fiscal year, EMU also received over $2.1 million in restricted gifts and grants. These contributions supported a broad range of EMU programs and projects as specifically designated by the donor. Both academic and athletic programs benefited from these restricted gifts.
“We are extremely grateful to our alumni, friends, faculty-staff and special partners whose generous contributions resulted in another record year of annual support for EMU,” said Loren Swartzendruber, EMU president. “EMU benefits from an especially loyal group of donors whose passion for the university and its mission is consistently reflected in generous giving to undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs.”
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