The Panther

Prairie View A&M University recently reached its goal of completing the largest capital campaign in its history, raising more than $30 million, thanks to charitable contributions from various sources including alumni, businesses, and national endowments. This particular effort was initiated in 2002. The theme of this campaign was "Extend the View" and its principal goals were raising funds to support merit-based scholarships, student services, new endowments for faculty chairs, athletics, engineering technology and new lab equipment, the renovation and preservation of historical buildings and general support. Nelson Bowman, director of development, responded to some concerns from students, that administration was not transparent enough to assure them that the money was going to be allocated appropriately. "Because this is a campaign with specific goals, the money will only go to those specified areas. If anyone wants to verify, our offices are always open," Bowman said. He cited the upcoming administrative open house which will be hosted by the Office of the President on April 30 as an opportunity for students to learn more about where the funds raised in this effort will go. Much of the contributions to the campaign came from alumni, who comprised 38 percent of total donations as of October 2008. Corporations also made up a large amount, giving almost 24 percent of the total donations. Among the largest corporate donors were Pepsi-Cola, Shell, Illinois Tool Works, and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Inc. Among the largest contributors to the campaign were the Brown Foundation, which donated $1 million, and Whitlowe Green, an alumnus of the class of '36 who donated $2.1 million. The university plans to erect a permanent donor wall in July on the second floor of the Memorial Student Center to honor over 2,800 donors to this campaign. The official campaign ended in December of last year, with the university exceeding its goal of $30 million by $2.2 million, according to the Office of Research and Development. The campaign has done much to revitalize the university's alumni, giving initiatives and has increased the school's endowment significantly. Prairie View's endowment is valued at nearly $56 million and ranks in the top 10 percent among HBCUs (it actually ranks 6th). From 2002 - 2007, the university's endowment increased by 48.7 percent, according to the Office of Research and Development newsletter.

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