TORONTO, May 29, 2007 -- With more than 10,600 alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students offering support, York has recorded its greatest year of fundraising to date.
The 2006-2007 fiscal year proved to be an outstanding period of fundraising across the University, with the number of York donors increasing by more than 70 per cent since 2002. Thanks to the support of the York community, overall revenue and multi-year pledge commitments have more than doubled over the past five years, with revenue soaring above $26 million and pledges reaching close to $29 million.
“The increase in the number of donors illustrates the commitment of our alumni and the broader community to the strength of York and the great teaching and research accomplished here,” says Tim Price, chair of the York University Foundation board of directors and a co-chair of the “York to the Power of 50” fundraising campaign. “We thank all of York’s many generous donors for making our success this past year possible.”
Last year marked the launch of “York to the Power of 50”, the largest fundraising campaign in the University’s history, tied to the University’s 50th anniversary. The campaign launched at a spectacular event at BMW Toronto this past October with close to 30 gifts of $1 million or more. The York University Foundation is now more than halfway toward its $200 million campaign goal, with $125 million raised to date.
“It has been a phenomenal year,” says Lorna R. Marsden, president and vice-chancellor of York University. “This tremendous support is giving York the power to create an infrastructure for learning, research and excellence; to transform students’ lives with scholarships and awards; to innovate with pioneering methods for learning and research and to empower our faculty with new Chairs and Professorships.”
York donors gave $5.4 million toward student financial support this year through the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) program, which matches private donations dollar-for-dollar. This creates new endowments of almost $11 million in student support once matching funds are added. This achievement exceeded the University’s OTSS target by over $1 million dollars, and eligible donations in excess of the goal will be carried over and matched in the next fiscal year.
“This outpouring of generosity and commitment to the University is simply outstanding,” says Paul Marcus, president and CEO of the York University Foundation. “The increased support from donors and volunteers is providing incredible opportunities for our students and faculty to achieve remarkable success.”
About York University Foundation
The York University Foundation is dedicated to supporting York University’s academic and research mission. In 2002, the Foundation was established as an innovative model for educational fundraising in Canada.
About York University
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 190,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 24 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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Contact:
Keith Marnoch
York University
Media Relations
(416) 736-2100 ext. 22091
