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September 18, 2007

Contact: Scott Silversten Phone: (718) 862-7232 E-mail: Public Relations

Manhattan College Announces Completion Of Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign

$160 million raised in largest campaign in Manhattan College history.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan College has announced the completion of its Sesquicentennial Campaign after having raised more than $160 million over six years in the largest capital campaign in the 154-year history of the College.

Announced publicly in January 2003, the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign, with an initial goal of $150 million, was the most ambitious development program in Manhattan College history. It began in July 2001 and was officially completed this past June, although promises of new money have continued in recent weeks and several potential gifts are still being finalized.

“The Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign has been a transformative moment in the history of Manhattan College, as it has established a very solid financial platform to propel Manhattan deep into the 21st century,” says Brother Thomas Scanlan, president of Manhattan College.  “We are very grateful to every single donor who helped make this campaign a singular success.”

An impressive cost benefit ratio of less than 10 cents spent per dollar raised ranks the campaign with the best in the nation. The Faculty/Staff campaign, part of the overall fundraising effort, accrued $1.3 million in less than a year.

The campaign’s success in its final two years was due in large part to the appointment of Tom O’Malley in July 2005 as chairman of the College’s board of trustees. O’Malley is resolute in his effort to build the endowment, enabling the College to continue its historic commitment to first generation college students, especially those from New York City who have significant financial need. Upon being named chairman, O’Malley strongly challenged the board members to secure increased funding.

In June 2006, the board of trustees presented a $17 million gift to Manhattan College, propelling the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign past the $135 million plateau. The gifts from the balance of the board, which was over and above its regular contributions, included a collective gift to the College from the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the College’s founding order, who serve on the board. The Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign thus marked a new culture of major gifts to the College, leaving the institution on a more firm financial footing.

As a result of the campaign, Manhattan College’s endowment has climbed to nearly $45 million and there are four new endowed chairs in its various schools, each at $1.5 million.

“We’ll be on much sounder financial footing, the endowment will be built, a new residence hall will be built and additional scholarship money will be realized as a result of this campaign,” says Michael McMorrow, executive director of the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign. “This endeavor will provide students will the best possible environment, from scholarship funds to a new residence hall, so that they can prepare for their own future in the best possible environment.”

During the public phase of the campaign, the College approached alumni/ae, parents, friends, corporations, private foundations and other potential donors, who share Manhattan College’s educational values and mission.

The College kicked off its Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign and recognized leadership gifts of $100,000 or more, as well as those already committed to helping the College meet its fund-raising goals, at a reception prior to the De La Salle Medal Dinner in January 2003. At that point, more than $50 million had already been raised through leadership gifts.

Among the initial goals, funds raised by the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign supported the construction of a new residence hall, East Hill Tower II, which will be completed prior to the 2008-09 academic year. Other objectives included increased support for faculty development and expansion of the student scholarship endowment. Eighty-five percent of Manhattan College students receive some form of financial aid and the larger scholarship endowment will ensure that financial considerations do not prevent promising students from considering the College.

The Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign has enabled the College to support its educational mission with modern technology. More than 300 current generation personal computers are now available to students in nine labs across the campus, with 100 systems available on a 24-hour basis in O’Malley Library.

All classrooms have direct connections to JasperNet, as well as wireless access, and the campaign funded installation of several ceiling-mounted data projectors. Additionally, all faculty members are provided with their own notebook computer and the College has connected to one of the leading data centers in New York City via its own “dark fiber” network, allowing for cross connection opportunities to virtually anywhere on the planet.

The College’s Internet bandwith also has been increased, with gigabit expansion capability in order to support demanding applications such as Web-based video. Students have seen their classroom experience enhanced by BlackBoard, a system to which faculty post course syllabuses, class notes, presentations, materials and other Web links.

The Lasallian principles upon which Manhattan College was founded are still in place 154 years later: tradition of excellence in teaching, respect for individual dignity, and commitment to social justice. The campaign objectives of “Support for Endowed Chairs and Professorships” and “Support for Faculty Development” help the College strengthen and build upon its most valuable resource – its faculty – and ensure that the Lasallian tradition of excellence in teaching remains a core part of the College’s mission.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering. For more information about Manhattan College, visit www.manhattan.edu.