Media Release - For Immediate Release
November 3 2010
Saint Mary’s Hearts and Minds Campaign Surpasses Goal
A banner showing the grand total raised in the Hearts and Minds campaign was unfurled during a celebration Wednesday in the Atrium. 
The Hon. Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis was one of the speakers to step up to the podium during Wednesday's celebration marking the close of the Hearts and Minds Capital Campaign. |
Saint Mary’s University wrapped up the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of the school Wednesday with a celebration honouring the donors and volunteers who made effort possible.
Launched in 2006, the campaign raised just over $45.4 million dollars, surpassing the campaign goal by more than 10 per cent.
More than 200 people packed the University’s Atrium to hear Campaign Chair Paul Sobey laud the efforts of the campaign team, the students, and especially the donors who stepped up to support the school, even in the middle of the largest economic downturn in recent memory.
“The University is important to this province. It is important to the students who attend here. And it is important to my family. The money raised supports the values we cherish: health and wellness, leadership, sustainability and unfettered access to educational opportunities for everyone, regardless of their soci-economic status.”
He said there were thousands of donors who contributed to the effort with donation that ranged from a few dollars to a $5 million contribution by Dr. Richard Homburg, CEO of Homburg Invest, a real estate management company.
“We had 13 gifts of over $1 million as part of this campaign, but it wasn’t the size of the donations that impressed me. It was the passion of the donors. They understood what Saint Mary’s is trying to do and they did whatever they could within their means to help to push the University forward,” said Mr. Sobey.
University President and Vice Chancellor Dr. J. Colin Dodds said the generosity of donors has transformed the campus, making new buildings like the Atrium and the Homburg Centre for Health and Wellness realities. As important as the infrastructure, he said the campaign raised vital funds for student aid and the enhancement of services for students with disabilities.
“We set out with an ambitious goal, $40 million, but I can tell you today that would have been impossible to achieve without a strong leader taking charge and driving the effort. We had a strong leader in Paul Sobey.”
Other officials who spoke at the event included Jeff Mullen, Regional Director of Enterprise Development with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, MLA Leonard Preyra, Cait Dix, Vice President Academic Affairs with the Saint Mary’s University Student Association and Lieutenant Governor Mayann Francis.
-30-
For More Information:
Steve Proctor
External Affairs
Saint Mary's University
(902) 420.5513
E-mail: steve.proctor@smu.ca
www.smu.ca
This page last modified Tuesday, 11-Jan-2011 11:52:04 AST