SEMO foundation donations rise by 57 percent

Southeast Missouri University Foundation raised over $4.7 million in private donations in the fiscal year that ended in June, up 57 percent over the previous fiscal year, foundation officials said.

The total included $1 million for the River Campus School of Visual and Performing Arts, Southeast Missouri State University's highest capital fund-raising priority.

In addition to current gifts, the foundation secured $2.25 million from 17 deferred gifts in the form of annuities, bequests and beneficiary designations. That's up 137 percent from the previous fiscal year, school officials aid.

"This show of generosity during such a difficult economic period is very gratifying," said Alan Zacharias, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation.

"Private support is essential to Southeast's success and will play an increasingly important role as we work toward our goal of becoming one of the nation's foremost comprehensive regional universities," he said.