In my banking career, I've come to appreciate the fact that every investment should have a return. As volunteer chair of Campaign Emory, an alumnus, and a longtime supporter of the University, I know that my investments in Emory generate profound returns.
Emory is a place where the best is yet to come, a university with a great sense of enthusiasm and energy, always exploring possibilities. Drawing on the experiences and knowledge of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community leaders, Emory has spent the past several years envisioning and articulating its aspirations. It has been equally careful in setting the figure required to realize those aspirations.
Yes, this is the most ambitious fundraising effort in the University’s history—tied to Emory's most ambitious strategic plan. Of Campaign Emory’s $1.6 billion goal, a significant portion will increase the endowment, which generates funding in perpetuity throughout the University. The remainder will provide resources to help improve aging facilities, build much-needed new ones, fund key programs, and support teaching, learning, research, patient care, and community service at Emory.
Campaigns such as Emory's always begin with a “silent phase,” a time when the university begins counting gifts and commitments as part of the campaign goal. Emory began that process in September 2005. At the events celebrating the public phase of Campaign Emory in September 2008, I was delighted to announce that we already had raised more than half of our goal. We have until December 31, 2012, to make it the rest of the way. The charts below show a breakdown of Emory's campaign goals.
Emory has invested a lot of time, research, and thought in making certain that goal is a realistic one. But anyone who has ever raised money, from chairs of major university campaigns to weekend athletes who run for charity, will tell you that the last half of a fundraising drive is the real challenge. Emory needs every one of you to help, not just with your gifts—although certainly with those—but also with your enthusiasm and your belief in what Emory will accomplish with these resources.
The stories on this Web site give you a small taste of what philanthropy can accomplish at this University. I invite you to take a look around and find the investment opportunity that's right for you.
Walter M. "Sonny" Deriso Jr. 68C 72L
Volunteer Chair, Campaign Emory
Chairman, Atlantic Capital Bank
Atlanta, Georgia
