Welcome
The BetterPlanet Project passes $110-million mark!
Earlier this year, the University announced that The BetterPlanet Project surpassed its mid-point goal, with $110 million raised from alumni, friends, and corporations. An impressive 14,000 donors made a contribution in 2010-2011, with more than 4,500 of those being first-time donors. The BetterPlanet Project has also generated confidence from a number of philanthropists and companies who have invested large gifts to the campaign. I thank you all – alumni and friends – for this incredible show of support and confidence.
The BetterPlanet Project is attracting attention across Canada. For example, the campaign was awarded top honours from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education with a gold medal and recognition as the Best Fundraising Case in Canada. Several new companies, organizations and philanthropists have stepped forward to support faculty who will be change agents in our food strategy, our environmental platform and our role in society. And new individual donors are supporting students in their learning and in their outreach, allowing them to improve quality of life for people and communities around the world.
The concept of The BetterPlanet Project is inspiring alumni engagement, first time donors, and major gifts. The University is achieving significant results while being recognized for an innovative and important campaign. As we turn this corner of the campaign, we have set our sights high with a $30-million goal for the new fiscal year.
Most importantly, alumni support and engagement is the foundation of our success. The BetterPlanet Project tells the tremendous grassroots story of how our alumni, students and faculty work towards the betterment of environment and society. As ambassadors for the University of Guelph, you share the story, the vision and the importance of what the University aims to achieve. All gifts to the campaign, no matter the size, help to solve the challenges we face in the areas of food, health, communities and the environment, and shape and guide our students and future leaders.
I thank you for supporting The BetterPlanet Project (www.thebetterplanetproject.ca) and ask for your continuing engagement in this exciting project.
Joanne Shoveller
Vice-President, Advancement
jshovell@uoguelph.ca
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