CARBONDALE – Chancellor Austin Lane has announced the expansion of the Forever SIU fundraising campaign with a new goal of $500 million.

The announcement came in front of a large crowd as SIU kicked off its Saluki Takeover Tour in St. Louis at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark on Wednesday, March 2.

“This will reshape the way we imagine the future of SIU,” Chancellor Lane said.

After raising more than $3 million during the SIU Day of Giving, Chancellor Lane was overjoyed at the show of Saluki spirit.

“This is about supporting our students and strengthening the university,” he said. “Our alumni and donors understand the importance of this mission, and their generosity is what has set us on this path to half a billion dollars.”

Forever SIU

The Forever SIU campaign was launched in 2017 with a goal of raising $75 million in three years. The Foundation sped past that milestone seven months early, which prompted the decision to set a new goal of $90 million.

“At the end of 2019, we had already surpassed that new goal,” Matt Kupec, CEO of the SIU Foundation, said. “That’s when we set our sights on $200 million, and we’re well ahead of schedule. It’s clear that we need to keep this momentum.”

The money raised through the campaign has funded scholarships, campus improvements, supported faculty, and enhanced alumni engagement.

“The SIU Foundation acts as an accelerator for the university,” Kupec said. “It’s a role we embrace every day, and we’re excited to continue the Forever SIU campaign.”

For more information about the Forever SIU campaign, contact siuf@ia.siu.edu.

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Media Contact: Rebecca Renshaw, SIU Foundation associate director of communications, 618-453-1328.

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