The West Virginia University Foundation announced Friday it has raised $900 million toward the largest fundraising campaign in its history.
As of June 30, more than 76,200 donors had given a combined $898.1 million to "A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia's University," the foundation announced in a news release. The campaign has a $1 billion goal to reach by its planned end date of December 2017.
The foundation upped the dollar goal last year and extended the time frame after the campaign exceeded the original $750 million goal more than a year before the original end date.
State of Minds began its silent phase of fundraising in 2007, garnering $538 million before it was publicly announced in 2012.
The foundation stated in its release Friday that it received $125 million in new gifts in fiscal year 2014-15 -- the second-highest amount raised in any fiscal year in the foundation's history.
"From art to land to funds that boost student scholarships and faculty research, I am deeply touched by the generosity of our alumni and friends in support of projects and initiatives in which they are passionate," WVU President Gordon Gee said in the release. "As I travel the state and nation, it is clear that 'Mountaineers Go First' in such a way to keep West Virginia University progressing to new heights."
The foundation says the campaign has paid for 632 new endowed student scholarships, 24 endowed faculty chairs and 21 endowed professorships. It's also created 199 new funds to assist research.
Recent major gifts include the W.A. Curruth, M.J. Pearse and K.J. Blakemore Scholarship; works of art donated by Lucie Mellert; an endowment establishing the Barbara B. Highland Stroke Chair for an endowed faculty member to conduct neurologic research, teaching and service; additions to the Barrett Hall of Honor at the Erickson Alumni Center provided by Betty Barrett; the Barbara Alvis International Student Emergency Fund; and a donation from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust creating the Hazel Ruby McQuain Equine Education and Resource Center.