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April 27, 2006

Bradford raises $13 million

Pitt-Bradford has raised more than $13 million, surpassing its goal for the Complete the Campus Campaign, which helped to create new scholarships, provide support for academic programs, enhance technology, build new buildings and renovate and expand existing ones.

The campaign exceeded its goal by $178,726 thanks to the gifts and pledges from more than 3,300 donors.

UPB President Livingston Alexander said: “We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed. Every gift mattered, both large and small. Donors can see the impact of their giving in our beautiful campus, hundreds of scholarships, art and entertainment programs and well-educated young men and women.”

In addition to the donors, Karen Niemic Buchheit, director of institutional advancement and assistant to the president, also credited the campaign’s success to the volunteers who dedicated their time to the campaign, beginning with the leadership of Howard Fesenmyer, campaign chairman, and Greg Booth, co-chairman.

Additionally, Buchheit said, the campaign received great support from the faculty and staff through an internal giving campaign. More than half of Pitt-Bradford’s employees contributed to the campaign, a statistic she said is considered extraordinary for a university community.

Of the more than $13 million that was raised, $3 million was used to create 55 new scholarships.

Another $6 million in campaign funds came from contributors who directed the campus to use the funds as needed.

The campus used $2 million to improve and enhance technology by creating a number of multimedia classrooms. The classrooms are equipped with many technological enhancements, including a computer, sound system, VCR/DVD player, media cabinet, projection units, screens and control-switching matrix software. Additionally, classrooms have wireless Internet access.

Another $2 million was used to improve UPB’s buildings. Funds donated to the campaign enabled the campus to renovate and expand both the Sport and Fitness Center, which now features a NCAA-regulation, six-lane swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center; and the Frame-Westerberg Commons building, which now houses a new dining facility and café, and an enlarged book store with an after-hours convenience store.

During the silent phase of the campaign, which began in 1999, Pitt-Bradford received a $2 million gift from KOA Speer Electronics Inc. in Bradford and the Mukaiyama-Rice Foundation. The money was used to renovate and expand the Commons.

Recently, Robert J. and Mary B. Weiss of Warren donated the Bradford Seneca Building on Main Street. This summer, UPB will move some of its offices into the building, valued at $1.2 million.

In January 2002, UPB received a $1 million bequest from the estate of Dorothy Reed, which was used to create the Reed-Coit Scholarship Challenge.

Another large bequest was received from the estate of Alice M. Meisel, a St. Marys native and former resident of DuBois, who left $928,000 to the campus.

Also in 2002, Zippo Manufacturing Co., W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. and the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation gave a $1 million gift to create the Zippo/Case Technology Challenge. The challenge matched gifts that were made to help improve and enhance the campus’s technology.


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