Engineering Development

Private Gifts, Both Large and Small, Can Make a World of Difference, continued

The third group of private supporters is composed of the many friends of the college who may not be graduates or corporate affiliates. Many of you have heard about the incredible Coleman gift to the University of Colorado of $250 million — a gift Tom Brokaw described on NBC Nightly News as "The Gift."

The Colemans are not alumni of the college or even of CU. But as Bill Coleman stated after visiting the College of Engineering last year: "I saw some of the incredible research being done in cognitive science, including the use of computer-based technologies to support lifelong learning and online community building." The Colemans are creating the CU Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities as an international center for excellence in developing adaptive, assistive technology for people with cognitive disabilities. Their gift will create a research endowment and the development of chairs and professorships in several departments on multiple campuses. As an engineer, Bill Coleman initiated the biggest gift in the history of public universities in CU-Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science. We are very proud of this success.

In the same way that many of you have pledged support over time, the Coleman gift will come to us over several years and will be invested and used as a strategic endowment to leverage additional support for decades. It is important to remember that Bill and Claudia Coleman dedicated their time and talents in the college before investing such a significant proportion of their net worth in CU.

However, we must not let all those zeros prevent us from thinking about the personal philanthropy that is within our means and the diversity of real world problems that can be addressed through investments in the College of Engineering and broader CU system. A gift of $25 from a recent CU graduate or a $500 pledge from a young alumnus/alumna is an equally important statement of support, investment, and appreciation. We should consider the Coleman gift as a challenge grant, not a financial solution to all of our critical needs as a leading university.

Some may respond with a humble feeling of "What could I possibly do that would make any difference in the shadow of such a gift?" Others may view the gift with envy, wishing they possessed the same capacity and initiative to make a gift of such enormous consequence. Still others will be inspired to give what they can, to stretch the amount of gift they might make, and to carefully consider the ways in which their gift might make a difference.

Support for both our graduate and undergraduate students changes lives, one student at a time. And the many donors who contribute to the building of our new facilities leave a mark on the world that will truly stand the test of time and touch many future generations of students and faculty. We are competing with the top universities in the country to retain our faculty and recruit outstanding students. Your investments are critical if the college is to continue its tradition of excellence in engineering education and research. The engineering development team is ready to assist you with your investments in the college and we hope you join a dynamic group of alumni, industry supporters, and friends.