NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Norwich University officials announced today that the five-year $100 million bicentennial campaign, “Forging the Future,” concluded at the end of 2019 and far exceeded the goal, raising $121,239,000.
The campaign was launched at Homecoming in 2014 and its end was timed to coincide with the university’s bicentennial, which was celebrated all throughout 2019 with special events on campus, in Vermont and across the country with alumni clubs. The campaign’s original goal of $100 million was exceeded a year early, so in January 2019 trustees raised the goal to $110 million.
“The Norwich University board of trustees was so impressed by the support of the Norwich community, that we responded with an even greater challenge to make Norwich the very best it can be,” Chairman Alan DeForest said.
Bicentennial celebrations peaked at Homecoming, held in September 2019, with a record 6,000+ alumni, family and friends who came to campus to celebrate. Along with new buildings, programs and increased scholarship funds, the bicentennial also brought the Bicentennial Stairs, which honor 78 individuals who have greatly impacted Norwich; a student-designed granite tribute to all faculty and staff; and a statue of a Norwich class ring, donated to the university by the Class of 2019. The ring statue created a new tradition associated with that important Norwich rite of passage.
“This has been a historic and powerful time at Norwich,” said President Richard W. Schneider, who will retire May 31 after 28 years at the helm. “It has been such an honor and a privilege to lead Norwich and to witness the love and support of its alumni and friends. These gifts fund investments in new programs, facilities and resources that enable Norwich to remain competitive, cutting-edge, flexible, affordable and relevant for Norwich’s next 200 years.”
About 8,422 donors contributed to the “Forging the Future” bicentennial campaign, which was dedicated solely to enhancing the academic program. Just under 6,000 of those gifts came from alumni. The campaign launched in 2014 with the announcement of the largest gift ever to the university, a $25 million matching challenge from the TAWANI Foundation made possible by the generosity of trustee emerita and 2007 honorary doctorate of military science degree recipient COL (IL) Jennifer Natalya Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired).
Some of the project goals, including scholarships and planned gifts exceeded expectations.
The $121 million went to:
- $54 million in academics and technology, including $24 million for the new Mack Hall and renovations to Dewey, Webb and Ainsworth halls. With the completion of this work, all academic buildings on campus are either new or have been renovated during President Schneider’s tenure as president.
- $8 million invested in campus, including $6 million in renovations to Kreitzberg Library and $2 million for the Bicentennial Stairs and the refurbishment of the Upper Parade Ground.
- $21 million for support of current operations.
- $19 million for scholarships.
- $19 million in planned gifts.
This is the fifth consecutive campaign led by President Schneider; all exceeded their fundraising goals. The 175th Anniversary campaign exceeded the $14 million goal and raised $15.3 million; the Leadership campaign exceeded its $25 million goal and raised $28.9 million; the Norwich Forever campaign exceeded the $55 million goal by raising $81.9 million; the Bearing the Torch effort exceeded the $20.2 million goal and raised $24.8 million. And the $100 million Forging the Future campaign marking the university’s bicentennial anniversary raised $121.2 million in gifts, bringing the total amount raised under his presidency to $272.1 million.
ABOUT THE TAWANI FOUNDATION
Founded in 2002 by notable philanthropist and entrepreneur Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), TAWANI Enterprises’ philanthropic organization, the TAWANI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that provides support in the areas of arts and culture, historical preservation, health and wellness, LGBT and human rights, education and environmental initiatives. TAWANI Foundation’s vision is to make a sustained and measurable difference for organizations that focus on enriching knowledge, improving health and wellness, and promoting scientific understanding – all with a common goal of making a positive, long-term impact on individuals, communities and the culture itself. To learn more, visit www.tawanifoundation.org.
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About Norwich University
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu
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