![\"Forever](\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/campaign-goal-update-56-266x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 A three-year, $75 million fundraising campaign to support students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale raised more than $56 million in its first year.<\/p>\n
\u201cForever SIU: The Campaign for Students\u201d launched Jan. 1, 2017. As of Dec. 31, approximately 5,000 donors contributed $56,317,674, or 75 percent of the $75 million goal, according to Jim Salmo, chief executive officer of the SIU Foundation.<\/p>\n
The campaign\u2019s progress is a sign of confidence in the university, said SIU Chancellor Carlo Montemagno.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we meet with our alumni close to home and across the country, I hear stories that reflect great pride in SIU,\u201d Montemagno said. \u201cAs we approach our 150th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary in 2019, I\u2019m grateful to the many graduates and friends who are investing in our future.\u201d<\/p>\n More than half of the total raised is for student scholarships and fellowships, with the balance supporting academic programs, facilities and technology.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery gift, large and small, benefits our students,\u201d Montemagno said.<\/p>\n Salmo said many donors work with foundation staff members to identify options for making gifts. Some make outright donations, some pledge gifts to be made over several years, and some defer commitments to be made through an estate or other means.<\/p>\n \u201cMany donors are surprised to learn that they have a lot of flexibility in making a gift that supports something near and dear to them at SIU,\u201d Salmo said. \u201cAnd some are blending their gifts so that they have both immediate and long-term impact. However they choose to give, we are grateful for the positive difference they are making for SIU and its students.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe success of \u2018Forever SIU\u2019 is only the beginning,\u201d Montemagno added. \u201cThere is so much ahead that we can accomplish in partnership with our alumni and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n To learn more about the campaign, visit\u00a0foreversiu.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Engage with us on\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CARBONDALE, Ill. \u2014 A three-year, $75 million fundraising campaign to support students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale raised more than $56 million in its first year. \u201cForever SIU: The Campaign for Students\u201d launched Jan. 1, 2017. As of Dec. 31, approximately 5,000 donors contributed $56,317,674, or 75 percent of the $75 million goal, according to … Continue reading $75 Million ‘Forever SIU’ campaign reaches 75 percent of goal in first year<\/span>