Capital campaign on track to reach goal early

About $483 million of the $500 million goal for the University's Our Students, Our Future. capitol campaign has been pledged, putting it on track to meet the goal nearly a year earlier than expected, UA officials said.

Pam Parker, vice president of University Advancement, said though the overall goal is within reach, money designated for student scholarships is still needed and the campaign will continue until next June.

The campaign aimed to raise $250 million for student scholarships, Parker said, and $160 million has been raised so far. Parker said she thinks the remaining $80 million can be raised within the next year.

"I don't see it being a problem," Parker said. "We'll have it by the end of the campaign."

The other $250 million raised for the campaign is designated to facilities, faculty support and priority needs, including funding athletic facilities and improvements to UA buildings.

The University started raising money for the campaign in 2002, and the campaign became public in 2006.

So far, almost 100,000 donors have given money to the campaign, and more than 100 donors have given gifts of more than $1 million.

UA President Robert Witt said he is confident the campaign will exceed the $500 million goal by a "substantial amount."

"The campaign's progress and success are a tribute to Pam Parker and her outstanding team of development officers, as well as to the generous support of dedicated alumni, friends, corporations and foundations," Witt said.

Parker said when the campaign began in 2006, the University hoped the goal would be met early, but she did not expect it to come this early.

Parker said one of the campaign's main purposes is to raise money for student scholarships, most of which are funded by the University.

"It's important for us to help our students finance their education," Parker said. "With the campaign, we really are working toward the future, and student scholarships are one of the key parts of that."

Parker said a campaign with the goal of raising $1 billion may not be too far off.

"I won't be the one to run that one," she said. "But it'll be in my lifetime, I'm sure."