Southeast fundraiser exceeds $45 million goal

President Kenneth W. Dobbins threw another curveball for those at Southeast Missouri State University this weekend.

The evening before one of Southeast's biggest celebrations, Homecoming, Dobbins announced Friday at the annual Copper Dome Society dinner to more than 500 alumni, students and friends that their ongoing campaign, "Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Success," had raised more than its expected goal -- eight months before the campaign's end.

Dobbins announced $45,045,650 has been raised for scholarships, programs and renovations to benefit students. This campaign had going for about a year; it was first announced during the Foundation's annual Copper Dome reception held in conjunction with Homecoming 2013 and the reopening of a restored Academic Hall.

At that time, $30 million had been raised through donations and planned gifts, and Dobbins had encouraged alumni and friends to help raise the final $10 million.

Since then, more than $15 million has been raised, and the campaign will continue through June 30 as the Foundation continues seeking scholarship funds, according to Southeast's official news release.

"The generosity of donors has been overwhelming," Dobbins said in a news release. "We received a $3 million bequest from the estate of the late Ann Matthews of Sikeston, Missouri, and a $4.5 million bequest from the estate of the late Dr. Jim Drickey of Cape Girardeau."

During the campaign, 195 new scholarships were established, bringing the total number The Foundation supports to 700. These endowed scholarships provide $1.5 million in financial support to students. Dobbins mentioned it was a record.

"We were very, very blessed to achieve that number through the philanthropy of many people," said Bill Holland, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation. "We had a record number of people participate in our giving last year. ... Our alumni association and foundation board really stepped up to help us in our effort."

The foundation's core mission is helping students obtain a higher-education degree.

"And as Dr. Dobbins said in his remarks last night, it's people helping people and that's the hallmark of Southeast Missouri State University," Holland said Saturday. "We still have eight months left in our official campaign, and we hope to go even further."

He said part of attracting contributors is getting people to understand student needs.

"Dr. Dobbins is passionate about providing access to higher education, and that comes in multiple ways, but scholarship support is very very key to this," he said. "We still have around 25 percent of students who are first-generation ... That's something we're very proud of is being able to provide access to higher education."

The "Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Success" campaign was authorized unanimously by the University Foundation's board of directors in 2010.

"We will continue to push forward and seek further donations over the next eight months. While our efforts will continue, I am so proud of what we have accomplished for the benefit of students here at Southeast," campaign committee co-chairman Stan Crader said.

What comes next is working with the alumni association and foundation board of directors to determine objectives and priorities.

"We want to enhance and further grow our engagement with our alums. We have over 70,000 worldwide. We want to engage and communicate with them that Southeast Missouri State is a great university. It's something they can be very proud of, and hopefully, something they can support in the future," Holland said.

smaue@semissourian.com

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rcampbell@semissourian.com

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