From left, Lamont Green, Ronnika Green, Taneisha Green, and Martrail Copeland walk across the Vanderbilt campus with Virginia Shepherd after a Saturday morning Kids and Computers class.
Vanderbilt to launch billion dollar campaign
Vanderbilt University is preparing to launch a $1 billion capital campaign to bolster the educational, medical and research opportunities at the institution. The five-year campaign will be kicked off in spring 2002.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is an integral part of the campaign and will reap the benefits.
Bob Feldman, associate vice chancellor for Medical Center Development, explained what is required to make the campaign successful.
“One of the essential parts of a campaign is a clear delineation of objectives,” he said. “The operational procedures include a structured analysis of capacity to reach out to alumni, friends, foundations, corporations, etc; the internal buy-in of the campaign from the medical community; and a plan to reach prospective supporters.
“When you start a $1 billion campaign, you have to answer a few questions. Why does Vanderbilt need $1 billion? What do you want to do with it? How will this affect the future of Vanderbilt?
“A campaign is a programmed, thoughtful, orderly approach to a task at hand. You have to have a comprehensive plan, similar to a business plan,” he said. “You have to have a staff adequate in size and sophistication to handle the task and work with the medical community. It is important to bear in mind that no one is obligated to give us anything. Philanthropy is the act of voluntary giving, not paying a bill.”
Some of the money raised in the campaign will be used to support the numerous construction sites at the medical center. These sites include:
•The Frances Williams Preston Building – Formerly Medical Research Building II, this is the focal point of theVanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center’s activities. A major expansion and marquee entrance will be completed and dedicated June 20.
The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research pledged a $10 million gift, along with another $6 million from an anonymous donor, to support innovative cancer research. In recognition of the gift, the building will be named for Frances Williams Preston, CEO and president of performance rights organization BMI, a VICC board member and president of the T.J. Martell Foundation.
•Medical Research Building III – Scientific research and discovery at Vanderbilt took a major step forward when ground was broken on the new Biological Sciences/Medical Research III Building. The landmark project – a 350,000-square-foot facility designed to promote connections between diverse scientific disciplines – is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Science and the School of Medicine and will promote increased collaborative efforts by both faculties. The $95 million project will occur in two phases. The first phase includes construction of the new nine-story building that wraps the north and east sides, and extends over the top of the Learned Lab building. The new building will add 64 research laboratories, four teaching laboratories, research support areas, offices, conference rooms, classrooms, and an 8650 net square-foot greenhouse for research and teaching. The ninth floor, which initially will be shelled space, will be finished later to add an additional 12 research laboratories and support areas. The project’s second phase includes renovation of the existing Learned Laboratory building. The entire project is expected to be completed in March 2003.
•The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital – An enthusiastic blend of children and their parents, Vanderbilt University faculty and staff, and community leaders joined together to break ground on Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s largest construction project to date – a free-standing children’s hospital, designed to be one of the most family-centered in the country. This state-of-the-art structure was named for Monroe J. Carell Jr., chairman of Central Parking Corporation, who along with his wife, Ann, are leading the fundraising effort for the new hospital. The $150 million facility is expected to be completed in 2003. The 565,000-square-foot building will consist of nine floors and 206 inpatient beds. It will replace the current hospital, housed on three floors within Vanderbilt Hospital.
Other programs and focuses of the medical center community will also benefit from the capital campaign. A goal of $50 million has been set for School of Medicine endowments. A parallel campaign for financial aid will be conducted for the School of Nursing.
Feldman is optimistic about the upcoming capital campaign and praised the leadership of Chancellor Gordon E. Gee and Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs, for recognizing the benefits of collaboration between the university and the medical center. Money from the campaign is being targeted to boost this collaboration as the university and the medical center will share space and resources.
“Vanderbilt is on the verge of another step of greatness,” he said.