SPRING 2022
East Ohio Campaign Raises $1.5 Million for New Residence Hall By Rick Wolcott* Laity and clergy, working together, exceeded the goal of raising and collecting $1.5 million in support of the East Ohio Conference Teach • Reach • Bless campaign. The funds will be used to build a new residence hall that will house 90 female students. Donors showed their commitment to improving the education and wellness of women today for a better Africa tomorrow. In an Episcopal Address, Bishop Tracy S. Malone shared her vision of the new residence hall for AU female students. Increasing enrollment and a lack of on-campus housing at AU means some students currently commute from remote areas to find affordable off-campus housing; this puts female students at risk of being subjected to untenable situations. “When God gives you a vision, God will make the necessary provisions for it to become a reality. . . We have collected the monies and are now ready to break ground. I thank God for the gift of the vision, and I celebrate the bold and courageous generosity of the clergy and churches, especially in these challenging times,” Malone said. Six weeks after the January 2020 launch of the three-year campaign, the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in Ohio. Church leaders focused on finding ways to accommodate churches and communities, but their commitment to the campaign did not waver. By the end of 2020, donors had contributed $518,868, and had made commitments of future payments totaling more than the needed $1.5 million, scheduled for the campaign’s end in December 2022.
Bishop Tracy S. Malone
AU students anticipate new living quarters thanks to a successful fundraising campaign by the East Ohio Annual Conference.
complete the project are in-hand, long-time AU supporters Rev. Bill and Marty McFadden offered a challenge gift that provided the campaign with a $1 match for every $3 collected from any source in 2021, with the goal of having the full $1.5 million by the end of the year – a year earlier than planned. The $736,241 collected in 2021 generated a $245,414 matching gift. The McFadden’s contribution brought their total challenge gift to $250,000.
While the goal has been met in two years – and construction will soon begin – one year remains in the three-year campaign. Donors who made commitments to be paid-out over three years are encouraged to honor those commitments, and those who still wish to contribute to the campaign can do so. Funds remaining after the residence hall has been built will support women’s empowerment initiatives to be created in a partnership between the East Ohio Conference and the Zimbabwe Conference of The United Methodist Church. Information about making donations online or via the U.S. mail is posted on the Teach • Reach • Bless pages of the Conference website, www.eocumc. com/teachreachbless.
“I celebrate the bold and courageous generosity of the clergy and churches, especially in these challenging times.”
“We thank God for the people of East Ohio for your generosity in contributing to the completion of the campaign,” Jackson said. “You have proven again to be devoted to helping others. In years to come, your gift will help to ensure safe living quarters for women students. To God be the glory.”
Bishop Tracy S. Malone
Aware of the long-standing policy of not breaking ground for construction until all monies to
Campaign Co-Chair Dr. Maggie Jackson chaired the Buildings and Grounds Committee when she served on the Africa University board of directors. She knows firsthand the impact that generous donors can have on the lives of AU students.
The Teach • Reach • Bless campaign was a collaborative effort of Bishop Malone, the campaign committee co-chaired by Dr. Jackson and Rev. McFadden, the Africa University Development office, Africa University leadership, East Ohio Conference leadership and staff, and local church clergy and laity. *Rick Wolcott is director of Communications for the East Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church.