Gala Evening, Dazzling Success
The $50 million Campaign for Saint Anselm College has been declared a success—six months early and $5 million ahead of projections. As of Dec. 31, 2004, the college had raised a total of $55.1 million.

College President Fr. Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., announced the success of the campaign Dec. 2 at the  annual President’s Society Dinner in Boston, with about 370 alumni and friends present for the black tie gala at the Westin Copley Place.

The campaign started in 1999 with a goal of raising $30 million. Under the leadership of Fr. Jonathan and campaign tri-chairs Michael Sheehan ’82, Robert Weiler ’73, and J.J. Healy ’83, fundraising went so well that the goal was increased twice—first to $40 million, then to an ambitious $50 million.

“It was a very large number for Saint Anselm College,” said Fr. Jonathan. “We undertook the campaign because we needed to better our endowment. We needed to increase support, especially for student scholarships and faculty development. One of the things that makes a good college great is financial  stability.”

The campaign has increased the college’s endowment from $40 million to $62 million, a figure that will continue to grow as pledges are realized in the coming three to five years. More than $27 million of this funding supports the college’s 173 endowed scholarships.

“I am so proud of what this college has been able to accomplish,” said Jim Flanagan, vice president for college advancement. “The generosity of our alumni and friends and the leadership of Fr. Jonathan and the campaign tri-chairs have been truly remarkable.”

Campaign gifts helped build the Thomas F. Sullivan Arena, which opened in September 2003 and provides home ice for men’s and women’s ice hockey. A portion of a $5 million unrestricted gift from Robert and Miriam Smith, parents of trustee Robert Smith Jr. ’86, helped build the arena.

In addition, a $500,000 gift from trustee Michael Sheehan and his wife Maureen established an endowed faculty fund for Portraits of Human Greatness, the college’s humanities program.

More than 6,000 alumni, parents and friends contributed to the campaign, and the college received 12 gifts of $1 million or more.

At the Dec. 2 dinner trustee Richard Bready ’65 surprised Fr. Jonathan with a $1 million check. With that, he fulfilled a pledge to fund the Richard L. Bready Chair for Ethics, Economics and the Common Good. “It’s not often that a president is caught speechless, but I was incredibly touched by Rick’s generosity,” said Fr. Jonathan.

Also that night, Fr. Jonathan announced the latest campaign commitment—an anonymous $1 million future bequest to the Alva deMars Megan Chapel Art Center. The funding will support acquisitions for the permanent collection.

“This campaign has succeeded beyond our greatest expectations, and while large gifts make for impressive announcements, I also want to express my gratitude for every single gift that got us here today,” he said. “Our collective efforts form a promise to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni that this college will continue to strive for excellence in all that it does.”