University of Colorado, A Message from the President
August 2014
 

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Each July, soon after CU's fiscal year closes, we announce our annual fundraising total. A few weeks ago we noted CU had set a record in raising private support, $298.4 million. One thing that highlights is how we are seeing positive results from the restructuring of our fundraising operations, which began more than a year ago.

The impressive total also speaks in many ways to what our university is about: the promise of our students and the excellence of our faculty teachers and researchers, who change and improve lives. It is also emblematic of the confidence our donors have in the university, its people and programs. I'll elaborate in a moment, but also want to touch on the business of fundraising.

It's important to recognize that philanthropy is a market that behaves like any other market, with many factors having an impact. The state of the economy obviously has a tremendous influence, as do the vagaries of the stock market. The perceptions and moods of donors have a significant bearing on fundraising success, just as they do with most investments.

Many intertwined factors deeply ingrained in CU influence philanthropy: the university's reputation, the research profile of faculty, alumni engagement, how we tell our stories to our constituents. Perhaps most important is the vision of the university and the ways it is conveyed. Our vision, quite simply, is to be one of the world's best universities. Private support has an enormous impact on achieving that.

Given all those factors, a number in a news release does not begin to relate what private support means to CU. As is often the case, a collection of stories reveals philanthropy's true impact.

It helps make the dream of college a reality. Karen and Jim Possehl recognized the challenges facing women in difficult circumstances who know a college education is a ticket to a better life but can't afford to make it happen. They created the Karen Possehl Women's Endowment on our Colorado Springs campus in 1998 to provide scholarship support, mentorship, peer counseling and even childcare. To date, the program has made success in college a reality for nearly 140 women.

It improves lives through research. Edna Leeman received treatment for ovarian cancer at CU in the 1980s, which extended her life by decades. By the time she passed away in 2012, she had donated a modest $275 to the CU Cancer Center, which had also treated her husband. Yet her legacy far exceeds her contributions during her life, thanks to a $1.6 million estate gift she provided for Cancer Center researchers studying the dreaded disease.

It allows individuals to give back to an enterprise that has given much to them. Doug and Mary Ann Looney met in a freshman English class on the Boulder campus and attribute much of their success in life to the education they received at CU, she in elementary education and he in journalism. They have contributed to those programs, as well as more than a dozen others. As Doug, who had a long career writing for Sports Illustrated, put it in his inimitable way, "We'd have to be total ingrates not to want to give a few dollars to a place that gave us, in a word, everything."

These are among the thousands of CU stories that show the "why" and the "what for" of philanthropy. And they are always far more compelling, and more important, than the "how much."

For feedback, contact officeofthepresident@cu.edu

Sincerely,
Bruce D. Benson
Bruce Benson
President


CU Cancer Center ranked among the best in the nation
CU Cancer Center ranked one of the best in the nation
The CU Cancer Center - through its clinical partner, the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) - has been steadily climbing in the annual U.S. News Best Hospitals report, moving into the Top 15 for the first time with a No. 15 national ranking in cancer services.
CU Cancer Center>>

Addressing a national issue
One of the most frequent conversations I have with parents is about the safety of their children on campus. One of our top priorities at CU is ensuring the safety not only of students, but also faculty, staff and visitors. To that end, we are addressing an issue that has received lots of national attention lately, sexual assault on college campuses.
Campus Safety>>

Spotlight on Alumni:
Making engineering magic in the Magic Kingdom
Making engineering magic in the Magic Kingdom
Since 2004, CU-Boulder alumnus Mike Morrison has worked at Disneyland, where he ensures rides and attractions are safe while providing the exhilarating experience expected by 50,000 daily visitors to the amusement park in Anaheim, Calif.

Disney engineer>>


CU For Colorado: Outreach Programs Serving The State

Mini Med School goes global – registration is underway
Mini Med School goes global – registration is underway
Mini Med School has been transitioned to a free massive open online course (MOOC) and is launching Sept. 8. The eight-week, online course introduces the basic science that underlies modern medicine and shows how we use that knowledge to understand medicine today.

Mini Med School MOOC>>


News from our campuses
University of Colorado
Boulder

Sierra Nevada Corp. and CU-Boulder expand their relationship: Agreement furthers Dream Chaser spacecraft microgravity science capabilities.

University of Colorado
Colorado Springs

Granting support to elder care and caregivers: Aging Center receives three grant awards, totaling more than $500,000.

University of Colorado
Denver

Study decodes ethnic labels: If you are of Latin American descent, do you call yourself Chicano? Latino? Hispanic?

University of Colorado
Anschutz Medical Campus

Lacrosse injuries on the rise: With more than 170,000 students playing the sport in high school nationally, more are being exposed to injuries.


Make a difference.
Give today!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE TO CU
CU Link
Your online community
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CU LINK
Update your profile, identify email preferences, register for events, search a directory and more.

Office of the President, University of Colorado
1800 Grant Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80203
General Phone: 303 860 5600 | Fax: 303 860 5610
www.cu.edu | officeofthepresident@cu.edu
Facebook Twitter