By Carl Voelcker
FSU Communications Group
FSU raised almost $50 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, making it the best year ever in the university's capital campaign, An Investment in Learning.
The yearly total -- more than twice the amount raised in the previous year -- pushed the campaign total to $163.4 million. The goal is $200 million, and the deadline is 17 months away.
Campaign Chairman George Langford gave credit for the success of the campaign to the affinity alumni feel toward Florida State and the good staff work of the FSU Foundation.
"We have been overwhelmed with the level of generosity and involvement of our alumni and friends," Langford said. "Prior to this year's record-shattering performance, our best fund-raising year ever barely topped $27 million. The generosity and loyalty of our alumni and friends are the driving force behind this successful campaign."
"This is just wonderful," said FSU Foundation President J. Jeffrey Robison. "We have assembled a very talented group of professionals to run our capital campaign, and their efforts and the dedication of our faculty, staff, alumni and friends are combining to give Florida State the fund-raising support we desperately need."
Year-end figures show that $10.5 million was raised for facilities and the lion's share, $32.4 million, is earmarked for academic areas such as scholarships, professorships and academic programs.
"We are continuing to build on the firm foundation built by those who came before us," Robison said. "We are generating world-class support for world-class academic programs at Florida State -- some that people know about, and other programs that soon a lot more people will know are a part of FSU."
FSU President Sandy D'Alemberte noted a surprising amount of support from such a diverse alumni base.
"We know that our alums are tenaciously loyal to Florida State, but frankly the level of their support is all the more gratifying because this is such a diverse institution," D'Alemberte said. "We are well known for our programs in the arts, but our scientific and professional schools are involved in cutting-edge technology and fundamental research that makes a difference in all our lives."