Jonathan Wanderstock
Anonymous gift provides opportunities for students
The continuing momentum and enhanced visibility of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is gradually translating into increased financial support on both the annual and major giving fronts. The dollar amount of annual gifts is up 28 percent over last year's total at this time. As of March 1, $30,375 had been received from 271 donors.
In the major gift arena, the School has been working on several six- and seven-figure gifts, primarily from foundations and corporations. One of these proposals, a three-year renewal grant for the Center for Environmental Journalism's Ted Scripps Fellowships program, was approved in April.
We are grateful to all of you who have invested in the SJMC over the course of the 1998-99 academic year. Your gifts have provided funding for internship support, updated equipment, and student clubs and groups. This has enabled students to participate in various educational trips and made it possible for us to bring speakers from the industry to campus.
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Jonathan Wanderstock
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In particular, I would like to highlight a gift of company stock from an anonymous journalism alum. The donor designated the gift toward both restricted and unrestricted projects. The restricted gift is an endowed graduate fellowship that will be awarded to a master's student on the basis of academic merit and financial need.
The unrestricted portion of the donor's gift will help fund the SJMC publications program, including the creation of an alumni directory, and our online activities. In addition, it helps cover travel expenses for faculty and students to academic conferences.
Because of this new funding stream, two students were able to attend the Society for Professional Journalists national convention in Los Angeles last fall, while two other students went to the regional SPJ conference in Grand Junction last month. The unrestricted portion also provided funding for an SPJ online journalism conference in Fort Collins co-sponsored by CU and Colorado State University.
Your annual support is having a tremendous impact on our most prized treasure-our students. It enhances various aspects of the SJMC's program operating costs, and it often means the difference between a student staying in school or transferring or dropping out. For those of you who wish to make a gift to the 1998-99 campaign, it's not too late to contribute. Our fiscal year runs through June 30. Please take a moment to write a check payable to the University of Colorado Foundation and mail it to the Foundation at: P.O. Box 1140, Boulder, CO 80306. You will receive the personal satisfaction of knowing that your gift benefits our exceptional students.
Once again, alumni from the classes of 1988 through 1998 can have a direct impact on the School through their participation in the Chris Bittman/Kenda Noble Young Alumni Challenge Fund. Chris Bittman ('85) and Kenda Noble Young ('82 A&S) will match all gifts of $10 to $100--dollar for dollar--from every person who makes a first-time gift in that range.
They also will match all gifts from previous donors who agree to increase their last annual gift by at least 10 percent. Join the 52 young alumni members of the "First Decade Club" who have given a total of $3,055 thus far.
If you are interested in supporting any aspect of the School's programs and activities, please contact me via e-mail at wanderstock@cufund.colorado.edu or by telephone at (303) 492-1097.
Thanks for investing in the School!
Jonathan Wanderstock
Director of Development