After four years and more than 17,000 donations, Grand Valley State University’s Shaping Our Future campaign has raised $95.3 million dollars, nearly doubling its initial campaign goal.

Donna Brooks announced the campaign total on June 8 at the university’s annual Enrichment Dinner.

The campaign, which began in 2007, was the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign. The initial fundraising goal was $50 million in honor of the university’s 50th anniversary, but was raised to $75 million after seeing its initial success.

“I am so honored and humbled by this outpouring of support,” said university President Thomas J. Haas, who said the campaign could put the university in a position to be a “game-changer” for the state and a power player in the Midwest.

Money raised by the campaign will support a number of university projects, including the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons, the L. William Seidman Center and the John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering.

“Everybody is pulling in the same direction, and everybody – the President, the Board of Trustees, the people on my staff – everybody is pulling to make this an incredible campaign,” said Maribeth Wardop, vice president of University Development, of the campaign in August 2010. Wardop was recognized for her fundraising efforts at the Enrichment Dinner.

James Brooks, Grand Valley University Foundation co-chair, said that the money will also support more than 90 new scholarships for GVSU students.

“We’re creating the resources to create world-class education programs for the students, to provide scholarships and, ultimately, to enable the university to respond to the changing needs of the West Michigan community to help drive the economy and to provide talent with the resources that we need to be a first-class region,” Brooks said.

The campaign officially concludes on June 30. To contribute to the campaign, visit www.gvsu.edu/giving.

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