May, 2015
A PRIL 23, 2014
CAMPAIGN GOAL $96.4 MILLION
FUNDS RAISED TO DATE $90 MILLION
PHASE
1 GOAL
$80 MILLION
PHASE
1 BALANCE
EXCEEDED
Campaign focus
NEWS AND UPDATES FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
Claflin Raises $90 Million, Exceeds Phase I Goal Claflin University has exceeded its phase one capital campaign goal, raising nearly $90 million – the largest amount raised in the history of the University. The funds have been used to build the endowment, strengthen academic programs and enhance facilities. “When we launched the campaign, we were focused on making a strong university even stronger. We wanted to bolster Claflin’s capacity to serve as a resource for the state of South Carolina,” said Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president at Claflin University. “This campaign is unique. It is big. It is the most ambitious campaign in the history of the University.” The overall goal for the Campaign for Claflin University is $96.4 million, with an $80 million Phase One goal. To date, a staggering $89.6 million has been raised to achieve the University’s vision. The campaign’s success can be attributed, in large part, to the generosity of Claflin University’s inner family – its Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors, alumni, administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents – which has contributed more than $19 million so far to the Campaign. One hundred percent of the trustees have given over the life of the campaign, and some 87 percent of alumni have done so. An astonishing 98 percent of Claflin’s administrators, faculty and staff have donated to the cause. The student body has surpassed its original $100,000 goal, raising $162,438, and is well on its way to achieving a new goal of giving $200,000 to the capital campaign. Claflin parents are also an integral part of the campaign, having sur-
Dr. Henry N. Tisdale
passed their original $50,000 goal. They are closing in on a new goal of giving $100,000 to the capital campaign. There have also been a number of tremendous gifts from businesses and individuals who are not a part of Claflin’s inner family, including a $4.35 million gift from Sodexo Campus Services – the corporation that provides integrated food and facilities management services for Claflin – to support student scholarships, enhance facilities, and promote health and wellness on campus. Also, famed financier, philanthropist and South Carolina native Darla D. Moore donated $1,000,000 for the University’s Department of Music through The Rainwater Charitable Foundation. Of the $89.6 million raised, $20,271,565 has gone to build the University’s endowment –
offering students more financial aid support than ever before. Additionally, $1,685,877 has gone to endow faculty chairs and professorships to continue building a worldclass faculty at the University and nearly $7,947,599 has gone to strengthen academic programs by way of much-need technology upgrades both in the classroom and throughout the campus. Claflin’s new Molecular Science Research Center and the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel are products of the capital campaign, as well. The work at Claflin University isn’t done. The completion of phase one simply segues into the campaign’s final stretch. “It’s an unfinished agenda, but we will complete that agenda and exceed the $96.4 million goal. We know we’ll do it,” Tisdale said.
Over $174,000 Given by 2015 Heritage Society Donors Claflin University celebrated the more than $174,000 in non-cash and planned gifts given to the institution over the last year during its annual Heritage Society Luncheon on May 7 in Ministers’ Hall.
Capital Campaign Steering Committee Mr. James A. Bennett, General Chair Ms. Alice M. Behlin Mr. Clyde A. Bess Rev. Dr. William F. Blue
Eight members were honored during the event, with giving levels ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. A planned gift includes life insurance policies, wills, inkind gifts, real property and other forms of irrevocable, non-cash gifts. Claflin University has been acknowledging Heritage Society honorees at a Central Savannah River Area Alumni Chapter President Dr. Willie luncheon during Commencement Frazier (center) and CSRA scholarship recipient Ms. Rodricka Week since 2002. The luncheon is the Gooch accept the Kennedy Fellows award during the annual University's way of thanking those in- Heritage Society Luncheon. Also pictured are Rev. Whittaker V. dividuals who give generously to the Middleton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement (far left) and Claflin president Dr. Henry N. Tisdale. University each year. The awards are based on non-cash gifts made to the University in the form of an in-kind or planned gift from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. The 2015 honorees were: Kennedy Fellows ($50,000.00 and above): Central Savannah River Area Alumni Chapter; Middleton Fellows ($25,000.00 to $49,999.99): Cecil J. Williams, ’60; Manning Fellows ($10,000.00 to $24,999.99): Sodexo Campus Facilities Services and Sodexo, Inc. & Affiliates; Walker Fellows ($5,000.00 to $9,999.99): Caroline N. Watson and Bi-Lo, Inc.; 1869 Society ($1,869.00 to $4,999.99): The Times and Democrat; Claflin Associate ($1,000.00 to 1,868.99): Jamaal R. Dukes.
Mr. Michael E. Brenan Mr. David R. Campbell Mr. Ted Creech Mr. Paul V. Fant Dr. Willie L. Frazier Mr. Hezekiah L. Hayes Mr. William H. Johnson Mrs. Janice W. Marshall Mrs. Lessie B. Price Rev. Dr. Caesar R. Richburg Mr. Issac Templeton, Jr. Dr. Leo F. Twiggs Rev. Harold G. Wallace
Campus Visits
Boeing South Carolina executives recently visited Claflin. From left to right: Boeing South Carolina Execs. Frank R. Hatten (Education Relations Specialist), Garth O. Cook (Education Relations Leader), President Henry Tisdale, Leandra Hayes, Jason Downey, Robert Downey, Angela Peters and Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton. Initial partnership initiatives include: South Carolina Career Fairs for Students, Speakers Bureau & Dream Learner Tours, Adjunct Professors, Continuing Education at Claflin for Employees and Student Mentoring & Community Outreach.
Representatives from Showa Denko Carbon, Inc., Ridgeville, S.C., visited Claflin. Pictured are, from left, Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, Clint Lucas (Vice President for Human Resources), Robert Whitten (President, Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.), President Henry N. Tisdale, and Burnett Vanish, 63’. SDC uses synthetic graphite electrodes to produce steel. Supplies 40% nationwide, employees 500, sales of $41.8 million in 2014. Specializes in electric arch furnace steel making and recycling of steal.
For more information regarding the Campaign for Claflin University, contact Rev. Whittaker V. Middleton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, at 803-535-5375.