Support Whittier
Report to Donors
2006-2007 FUNDRAISING RESULTS
Highlights
Thanks to the wonderful financial support of almost 6,000 alumni, parents and friends of Whittier College, more than $7.2 million was contributed in the 2006-2007 fiscal year to support a broad range of key programs and initiatives, including:
- Breaking ground on the new Campus Center (completion slated for Summer 2008)
- Renovating Ball and Johnson Residence Halls
- Establishing four new scholarship endowments
- Creating a new endowed professorship
- Designing a fearsome new athletic logo, refurbish the weight room in the Graham Athletic Center, provide additional funding for coaches and install new lights in the football stadium
- Providing scholarships and internships to 75% of our deserving undergraduate students
- And much, much more!
Foundations
Over the years Whittier College has enjoyed the support of numerous leading foundations to advance the College's academic programs and campus infrastructure. This past year, Whittier saw a renewed commitment from a number of these philanthropic partners in support of our key initiatives. We are particularly grateful to the Rose Hills Foundation, Weingart Foundation, and Ahmanson Foundation for their generous support of the Campus Center renovation project. In addition, The Fletcher Jones Foundation provided essential funding for science equipment needs for new faculty in shared, interdisciplinary research spaces. The Mellon Foundation provided new funding through a President's Discretionary grant to help the College continue to matriculate a diverse student body and to support these students in their academic pursuits. Mellon also provided funding for a new Environmental Science Initiative designed to enable students to learn the deeply interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues and prepare themselves for the collaborative teamwork in environmentally focused careers. The Ann Peppers Foundation and the Assistance League of Whittier continued their support for student scholarships. And, Southern California Edison provided a grant to the Ortiz Programs for leadership development projects and community-based learning projects aimed to provide sustainable, continuing improvement of Hispanic students' retention and graduation rate.
Private Gifts
Colleges rely on their alumni, parents and friends for philanthropic support to sustain academic and extra-curricular programs. Whittier College is no different and this year showed a marked rise in support from individual donors. Alumni contributed over $3.8 million in cash gifts toward a broad-range of institutional priorities including scholarship and internships, the Bach Festival, faculty salary parity, athletics, and capital projects. Gifts from parents nearly doubled this year, with particularly strong support coming from the Friends of Men's Lacrosse, a group founded by parents of current players to make Whittier lacrosse one of the premiere Division III programs in the western United States and in the nation. A leadership gift from trustee and parent David Mandarich (P'96) for a new synthetic turf field for football and lacrosse illustrates the pride and commitment many parents exhibit toward their children's alma mater.
