Capital campaign helps Prairie View extend the view

Prairie View A&M University recently
reached its goal of completing the largest capital
campaign in its history, raising more than
$30 million, thanks to charitable contributions
from various sources including alumni,
businesses, and national endowments.
This particular effort was initiated in
2002. The theme of this campaign was “Extend
the View” and its principal goals were
raising funds to support merit-based scholarships,
student services, new endowments for
faculty chairs, athletics, engineering technology
and new lab equipment, the renovation
and preservation of historical buildings and
general support.
Nelson Bowman, director of development,
responded to some concerns from students,
that administration was not transparent
enough to assure them that the money was
going to be allocated appropriately. “Because
this is a campaign with specific goals, the
money will only go to those specified areas. If
anyone wants to verify, our offices are always
open,” Bowman said.
He cited the upcoming administrative
open house which will be hosted by the
Office of the President on April 30 as an opportunity
for students to learn more about
where the funds raised in this effort will go.
Much of the contributions to the
campaign came from alumni, who comprised
38 percent of total donations as of October
2008. Corporations also made up a large
amount, giving almost 24 percent of the total
donations. Among the largest corporate
donors were Pepsi-Cola, Shell, Illinois Tool
Works, and L-3 Communications Integrated
Systems, Inc.
Among the largest contributors to the
campaign were the Brown Foundation, which
donated $1 million, and Whitlowe Green, an
alumnus of the class of ’36 who donated $2.1
million.
The university plans to erect a permanent
donor wall in July on the second floor
of the Memorial Student Center to honor over
2,800 donors to this campaign.
The official campaign ended in December
of last year, with the university exceeding
its goal of $30 million by $2.2 million,
according to the Office of Research and Development.
The campaign has done much to revitalize
the university’s alumni, giving initiatives
and has increased the school’s endowment
significantly. Prairie View’s endowment
is valued at nearly $56 million and ranks in
the top 10 percent among HBCUs (it actually
ranks 6th). From 2002 – 2007, the university’s
endowment increased by 48.7 percent, according
to the Office of Research and Development
newsletter.