Gift total for 2002-03 reaches $15 million
March 31, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University received more than $1.3 million in gifts in January and February, bringing the University's 2002-03 fiscal-year total to nearly $15 million.
According to a report presented to the WMU Board of Trustees at its March 28 meeting, the University received $14,974,532 in gifts during the first eight months of the University's 2002-03 fiscal year, which began July 1, 2002. That amount is $6.8 million less than the gift total for the first eight months of the previous fiscal year, primarily because of an $8 million distribution from the estate of Gwen Frostic. That distribution, received during the first half of the 2001-02 fiscal year, was part of the largest gift in WMU history.
All gifts to the University are received through the WMU Foundation or the Paper Technology Foundation, which supports the internationally known paper programs at WMU. For the first eight months of the 2002-03 fiscal year, the WMU Foundation reported current and deferred cash gifts totaling $13,011,161 and non-cash gifts valued at $1,454,745, for a total of $14,465,906. The Paper Technology Foundation reported cash gifts totaling $256,626 and non-cash gifts valued at $252,000, for a total of $508,626.
During January and February, anonymous donors made two large, unrestricted gifts, totaling more than $478,000.
Also during the period, the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society contributed $20,000 to create a fellowship in the Department of History, and the Wal-Mart Foundation donated $15,000 for scholarships to the Food Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business.
Robert E. and Shirley A. Burns of Asheville, N.C., contributed more than $15,000 for a chemistry scholarship in memory of their daughter, Dr. Susan E. Burns. An assistant professor of chemistry, Susan Burns taught at WMU from 1996 until her death in October 1999 at age 35.
WMU also received gifts of $10,000 each from alumni Erwin H. and Judith G. Doerschler of Kalamazoo to the Gary Fund for men's basketball; from alumni John M. Sorensen and Gloria Morris-Sorensen of Alto, Mich., to the Gary Fund for men's tennis; from the Ronda E. Stryker and William D. Johnston Foundation of Kalamazoo for the Donald J Seelye Athletic Center; and from Joshua T. Weiner of Portage, Mich., for the unrestricted use of the University.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thomas.myers@wmich.edu