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Renaissance Campaign Coming up roses:
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Summer 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 3
Imagine 1,000 people attending a Red Tie Gala to kick off the
From left, Jim Owens, Caterpillar chairman and CEO; Bradley President Joanne Glasser; and GERALD SHAHEEN ’66 MBA ’68, president of the Bradley Board of Trustees and chair of the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance, celebrated the announcement of Caterpillar’s $30 million gift to Bradley.
About 1,000 Bradley alumni, employees, students, and friends attended the Red Tie Gala, held in the ballroom at the Peoria Civic Center.
The Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance just completed the “silent phase.” At the gala, a total of $104,562,197 was announced.
President Joanne Glasser presents the President’s Award to former Congressman ROBERT H. MICHEL ’48 HON ’81 at the gala event. The President’s Award recognizes leadership among leaders. It is given to the donor or donors who set an example for others by their continued relationship and involvement in the progress of the University. Michel served 19 consecutive terms as Congressman from the 18th District. He served nine presidents and is the longest serving House Minority Leader in our nation’s history. In 1994, he received the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. Michel became a member of the Bradley Board of Trustees in 1982, and was named a lifetime honorary trustee in 1994. A recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Michel is a member of Bradley’s Centurion Society. He also became a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of American Government, Emeritus when he retired from public office. Bradley’s student center is named in his honor. “Imagine what we’ll do next” was the theme for the gala, as attendees watched a multimedia presentation that included renderings of upcoming construction projects, students sharing their successes and imagining their futures, and much more. “We want you to imagine, imagine, imagine, and together, we can seize the moment,” President Joanne Glasser told the group of Bradley alumni, friends, students, and faculty-staff who gathered April 24 in the ballroom of the Peoria Civic Center. She added, “This is the first step toward transforming our campus, taking Bradley to the next level, and freeing the University to dream big dreams — really big dreams. I believe Bradley can become nationally recognized for our innovation and our achievement. I believe our top-notch faculty and students are poised to make a significant impact on our nation and throughout the world. I believe Bradley can do great things — will do great things — once we have the physical and personnel infrastructure in place. Once we allow ourselves to imagine the possible, imagine a bright new future, imagine what we will do next.” GERALD SHAHEEN ’66 MBA ’68, chairman of both the campaign and the Board of Trustees, shared the overall vision for the University and introduced the proposed bricks and mortar projects. He commented, “It’s not enough to keep pace with our competition. We must move to a higher level.” Caterpillar announces lead giftDancers, confetti, and a brilliant multimedia show heralded an announcement by Jim Owens, Caterpillar chairman and CEO, that Caterpillar is donating up to $30 million, the largest gift in Bradley’s history. With two matching gift incentives, the total effect of the gift could reach $48 million. In honor of the unprecedented gift, Bradley will formally name the College of Engineering and Technology in Caterpillar’s honor during a ceremony at a later date. Owens said, “I’m privileged to be the latest in a long line of Caterpillar chairmen who have recognized the special, mutually beneficial relationship between Bradley University and Caterpillar.” Reflecting on Caterpillar’s giving record, he noted, “In 1963, Louis Neumiller led a fundraising effort to restore Bradley Hall following the fire that ravaged the historic building. Five years later, William Blackie announced a $500,000 gift to the University. In 1986, George Schaefer described Caterpillar’s $5 million lead contribution to the Campaign for Bradley as ‘one of the best investments we have made.’ This campaign would ultimately surpass its $26 million goal by raising $32 million. In the 1990s, Don Fites chaired Bradley’s highly successful Centennial Campaign. Caterpillar pledged $20 million, including an employee challenge goal of $4 million. Led by employee campaign chair Gerry Shaheen, Team Caterpillar contributed a record $5.3 million to a fundraising drive that eventually raised $127 million.” Owens added, “As a Fortune 50 corporation with a vision to be the admired global leader, we look to Bradley University as a premier source of talent. Today, more than 2,400 Bradley alumni are active members of Team Caterpillar. Another 750 are Caterpillar retirees. Hundreds of Bradley students work as interns at Caterpillar facilities. The University’s talented faculty collaborates with us on research projects and continuing education opportunities that give Caterpillar a competitive edge.” Caterpillar and Bradley also were involved in founding PeoriaNEXT, a group of community leaders organized to stimulate technology-based economic growth in the Peoria area, and to establish its Innovation Center. Make a gift to the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance. Go> |
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