Today, Adelphi University launched The Campaign for Adelphi University: Building Adelphi’s Future One Story at a Time, the first comprehensive fundraising campaign in its 111–year history, with a goal of $56 million. The campaign is projected to continue through 2010 and seeks to increase endowments for student scholarships and faculty support and fund campus enhancements. Campaign commitments to date total $33.4 million, including ten generous gifts of $1 million or more.

“Adelphi is poised for the future,” said Adelphi University President Robert A. Scott. “For more than a century, the University has been a place of opportunity for area students as well as students from across the country and around the world. In order to continue our long tradition of offering a first–rate education at an outstanding value, we must invest in our faculty, students, and needed campus upgrades. The Campaign for Adelphi University will allow us to build a stronger Adelphi for today and tomorrow.”

The campaign priorities are: $43 million for facilities, including a new recreation and sports center, a new performing arts center, a renovation of Adelphi’s 78–year–old Woodruff Hall gymnasium, and a new Alice Brown Early Learning Center; $10 million in endowment support for student scholarships; and $3 million in endowment support for faculty. Increased alumni participation in the Annual Fund is also a cornerstone of the campaign.  

The Campaign for Adelphi University is led by a 13–member volunteer campaign steering committee co–chaired by Brian D. McAuley ’61, ’06 (Hon.) and Trustees Katherine H. Littlefield, Thomas F. Motamed ’71, and Leon M. Pollack ’63. Honorary campaign co–chairs are Adele Klapper ’92, M.A. ’99 and John J. Phelan, Jr. ’70, ’87 (Hon.). The campaign co-chairs have each made leadership gifts to the campaign.  

“I first learned the meaning of discipline, sacrifice, teamwork, and leadership while a student–athlete at Adelphi,” said Trustee and campaign co–chair Thomas F. Motamed ’71, who is vice chairman and chief operating officer of The Chubb Corporation and president and chief operating officer of Chubb & Son. “In supporting the campaign, I’m giving future generations of Adelphi students a chance to thrive on the court, on the field, and in life.”

Adelphi’s new multiple-building instructional, performing arts, and recreation complex will enhance Adelphi’s academic, artistic, athletic, and recreational programs. The complex will encompass a complete renovation of Adelphi's historic Woodruff Hall gymnasium, which will be adapted for thriving academic programs in health studies, physical education, and human performance science, and will include approximately 76,000 square feet of new construction to house growing and increasingly successful athletic and recreation programs and host NCAA championship games and community events. Adelphi's Stiles Field will be relocated next to the new center, and will be resurfaced, lighted, and redesigned to allow for underground parking.

The new performing arts center will include an upgrade and expansion of Adelphi's 32-year-old Olmsted Theatre as well as approximately 53,000 square feet of new space. The new center will offer needed performance, rehearsal, and classroom space for highly regarded programs in theatre, dance, and music, and will serve as a new cultural arts venue to be enjoyed by members of the Adelphi community as well as area residents.

The University will also replace the 33-year-old structure for its popular Child Activity Center with a new state-of-the-art center. The new Alice Brown Early Learning Center will be devoted to the education of preschool children from across the region and will be closely connected to Adelphi's well-known undergraduate and graduate programs in education, social work, psychology, and nursing.

The construction, managed by Damon G. Douglas Company, began in spring 2006 and is expected to be completed by 2009. Architectural and engineering services are provided by Cannon Design.

“The new facilities and endowments are vital to Adelphi’s growth and ability to attract and retain the best and brightest students and to enhance the quality of education inside and outside the classroom,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gayle D. Insler. “Adelphi has established world–class academic programs across the curriculum by investing in its faculty, students, and facilities. The new buildings and endowments for student scholarships and faculty support mean that the caliber of an Adelphi education will continue to improve.” 

The launch of The Campaign for Adelphi University follows closely upon a string of recent successes. Adelphi has been recognized by The Fiske Guide to Colleges as one of the nation’s “best and most interesting” institutions and for two consecutive years has been listed among a select number of “Best Buys” in higher education. With an enrollment of nearly 900, the Class of 2011 is Adelphi’s largest in 17 years. Adelphi has added new academic programs, including an M.F.A. degree in creative writing and national online degrees in emergency services administration. Adelphi’s School of Business has earned national accreditation from AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education has achieved national accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Adelphi students, faculty, alumni, and programs have been recognized nationally and internationally for their excellence and high achievement.

“Adelphi has already changed my life,” said Gianna Smith ’08, a communications major and business minor and co-captain of the Adelphi women’s basketball team. “Playing for the women’s basketball team and managing a demanding academic schedule, I’ve experienced the camaraderie and challenge that an Adelphi education offers. With outstanding faculty and coach mentors, I’ve grown into a more able scholar and athlete. Playing in an outmoded gymnasium for three years, I’ve tasted the joy of succeeding against great odds, but I look forward to the day when Adelphi’s facilities match the excellence of its people and programs.” 

To learn more about The Campaign for Adelphi University: Building Adelphi’s Future One Story at a Time, visit http://www.adelphi.edu/campaign.

Kali Chan Media Relations Director p - 516.877.4040 f - 516.877.3266 e - chan@adelphi.edu