With a little more than a year to go, Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives, the University of Oregon's fundraising initiative, has passed the $500 million mark toward a goal of $600 million for student and faculty support, programs and facilities, UO President Dave Frohnmayer recently announced.

"Because of our generous donors, the University of Oregon is increasing student access, boosting recruitment and retention of top faculty members, enhancing academic programs and building 21st-century learning spaces across campus," Frohnmayer said. "In short, private gifts are enabling the university to move to a new level of distinction among its peers."

Frohnmayer reported another milestone in the university's fundraising history: The University of Oregon Foundation, which receives, invests and disburses private gifts made to the university, announced this week that its total endowment has exceeded a market value of $400 million for the first time.

The university started raising money for Campaign Oregon, the most ambitious fundraising initiative in state history, in January 2001. The campaign is scheduled to end in July 2008.

The bulk of donations have come from individuals, both alumni (45 percent) and friends (those who are not alumni–28 percent). The rest have come from corporations and foundations, family foundations, parents, and faculty and staff. Close to 50 percent of the donations have come from out-of-state.

Even though it still has more than a year to go, Campaign Oregon is already transforming many lives on campus. Listed below are just a few examples of the impact.

INCREASING STUDENT ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY: The campaign has raised more than $70 million toward its goal of $100 million for student scholarships, fellowships, grants and awards. As a result, more students will be able to obtain a university education without accumulating crippling debt, and the university will have the resources to recruit more top students.

BOOSTING FACULTY SUPPORT: Campaign donors have given almost $65 million for faculty support, including 30 new endowed chairs and professorships and a new fund for faculty excellence. This gives the UO a better chance of recruiting outstanding faculty members and retaining the most productive and promising professors.

ENHANCING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: The campaign has raised almost $120 million for academic programs. Contributions have increased support for existing programs, such as the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies and the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, and helped launch new ones such as the School of Journalism and Communication’s new George S. Turnbull Center in Portland.

IMPROVING ACADEMIC FACILITIES: Because of contributions for building renovation and expansion projects, future students in the School of Music and Dance won’t have to practice in elevators and hallways anymore. In addition, nationally known researchers in the College of Education will have offices on campus instead of in rented quarters dispersed around town, and nanoscience pioneers will be able to collaborate with their colleagues on revolutionary solutions to scientific challenges.

CULTURAL OUTREACH: Private contributions have also benefited UO programs that provide knowledge, entertainment and cultural enrichment to the community, the state and beyond. For example, because of campaign gifts, the Special Collections division of UO Libraries is improving public accessibility to and preservation of Northwest historical resources; the UO Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art has nearly doubled in size; and the Oregon Bach Festival is halfway toward its goal of a $10 million operating endowment.