Just over a year after the official launch of McMaster University's Changing Tomorrow Today campaign, the campaign has surpassed its $100-million, private-sector target. The breakthrough of $100.5 million is more than eight months ahead of schedule.

“It's an incredible accomplishment,” says President Peter George. “The outstanding support we have received from individuals, corporations, foundations, the campus and the community reaffirms McMaster's place as one of Canada's premier universities. Our supporters have demonstrated in a very tangible way that they share our vision of a University that will lead Hamilton and Canada well into the new century.”

The $100 million will fund a wide range of new initiatives:

7 Students will benefit from more than 22-million new dollars for scholarships and bursaries;

7 The University Centre will be completed thanks to support from past and present students and private contributors;

7 The Centre for Leadership in Learning will help faculty develop and refine their teaching skills;

7 30 endowed research chairs will forward discoveries in areas from breast cancer and heart disease to business innovation, environment and health, and infrastructure renewal — research chairs will also help McMaster retain and attract some of the best researchers from around the world.

Although the campaign has now reached its $100-million goal, the campaign is not over yet. Fundraising will continue until the official close on July 1, 2001.

“While we are not setting a new target, the dedicated volunteers who have led the campaign are committed to continuing their efforts in order to raise additional money for all of the campaign's priorities,” says George. These efforts will focus on new funds for the Library, student laboratories and scholarships, and the Museum of Art.

Marc Marzotto, president of the McMaster Students Union, says “The campaign's success will help the University to move forward and is of particular benefit not only to today's students, but also to those who will attend McMaster in the future.”

The campaign breakthrough is not the only measure of the University's success. Other non-government support for McMaster since the campaign's unofficial start in 1998, is $32 million. Grants to support research, excluding research contracts, total $43.5 million. These initiatives combined with the astounding success of the campaign mark a private-sector investment in McMaster of over $176 million.

George believes “McMaster's students, faculty, staff, volunteers and supporters have much to celebrate. With an infusion of more than $176 million, the University is prepared to enter a new era of innovation and success that has not been matched in its 113-year history.”