October 20, 2005
Banners signify new phase in Campaign UW
Have you seen the colorful banners posted across campus that say “Creating Futures”? They’re part of a new phase in the UW Foundation’s eight-year quest to raise $2 billion in public support.
The banners, installed campuswide last week, are part of a new effort launched Wednesday in regional media, on buses and in UW-owned properties in Seattle. John Buller, executive director of the UW Alumni Association and vice president of Advancement Communications, part of Development and Alumni Relations, said the object of the new campaign phase is threefold:
- To raise understanding of the relevance of the University, and its individual departments, among faculty, staff, alumni and the community.
- To raise understanding of the UW Foundation’s role in the University’s future. “It is the Foundation’s campaign,” Buller said. “We have a strong and vibrant Foundation and philanthropy to support 1,771 indivudal opportunities to give to a specific program.
- To engage people and increase their understanding that they, too, can be part of the UW’s future.
Along the way, Buller said, would-be supporters of Campaign UW are being asked several key “What if” questions on the UW Foundation’s Web site (visit online at http://uwfoundation.org/), each answered with information about key UW research: “What if a vaccine could stop the threat of cancer?” “What if our children were prepared to be global citizens?” “What if good health was ageless?”
Buller said the current effort will build up to Homecoming Week, Nov. 2, and beyond, seeking to encourage alumni especially to return to campus for visits and reminding them that contributions can be aimed at any particular department or program. This effort links up well with the major April event Washington Weekend, Buller said, where the campus shares its talents with the community.
Asked to sum up the basic message of the campaign, Buller replied almost without hesitation, “The University of Washington is of an incredible quality, impact and relevance to the future of our region and our world, and you should be helping. As a graduate, you should understand it, and should help.”
So far, the fund-raising campaign has brought in pledges totaling about $1.4 billion.
