Penn State Hershey exceeds ‘For the Future’ campaign goal

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has surpassed the $300 million goal of its most ambitious fundraising initiative to date, raising $306,476,284 in private support. Launched in January 2007 as part of a University-wide $2 billion effort, For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Hershey Medical Center secured support to strengthen the Medical Center and College of Medicine's education, patient care, research and community service missions. Penn State Hershey's final tally represents the second highest fundraising total across all of the University's individual units (second only to Intercollegiate Athletics).

“Throughout the campaign, our donors' unprecedented support has enabled us to build new state-of-the art facilities; renovate clinical and laboratory spaces to ensure that every patient has the best experience possible, with access to the most advanced technology and methods of care; and extend our reach and impact well beyond the boundaries of our Hershey campus into a growing health network with clinical and academic affiliates across Pennsylvania,” says Dr. A. Craig Hillemeier, chief executive officer, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Health System; senior vice president for health affairs, Penn State; and dean, Penn State College of Medicine. “I am grateful to all of the patients, alumni, faculty and staff; the corporate and community partners; and many, many other friends, who have shared in our vision to make Penn State Hershey not only a top-rated facility known for providing the most advanced patient-centered care, but also a central figure in health care innovation.”

More than 407,000 donors gave more than 947,000 gifts to Penn State Hershey's effort, including more than $65 million to build the new Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The campaign, which officially concluded on June 30, 2014, also garnered significant support to establish new medical and graduate student scholarships and endowed faculty positions, advance novel research, enrich patient care and community outreach initiatives and foster innovation across the institution's missions.

Contributions during the campaign increased the College of Medicine's scholarship endowment by 52 percent and enabled the institution to award more than $3.2 million in scholarship support to benefit 605 students. Several new faculty endowments were also created, including the chair position in the new Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and 29 new research funds were established to support discovery in diverse fields, including cancer, pathology, cellular and molecular physiology, cardiovascular medicine, dermatology, inflammatory bowel disease, neurology, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, family and community medicine, autism and eating disorders.

“It has been a tremendous honor to chair Penn State Hershey's campaign and lead hundreds of dedicated committee volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our fundraising effort,” says Dennis P. Brenckle, chair, For the Future campaign. “Over the last several years, we've witnessed extraordinary growth in our campus infrastructure, the quality of our clinical programs, and the strength of our academic and research pursuits. The support of our generous donors and the passion and commitment of our volunteers have positioned Penn State Hershey to achieve even greater success in the future.”

The campaign total of $306.4 million represents gifts from a wide range of philanthropic partners, including nearly $210 million from corporations, foundations, and community organizations; more than $33 million from Penn State alumni, and more than $8 million from Penn State Hershey faculty and staff. Nearly 30 individual donors made commitments of $1 million or more, while numerous community advocates and countless young people helped to raise more than $112 million to support children's health initiatives connected with Children's Miracle Network and Four Diamonds.

“In the final stages of this campaign, I have been overwhelmed and inspired by the incredible generosity of our donors and the trust they have placed in Penn State Hershey to lead the way in building a healthier future,” says Kelly Altland, associate vice president for development, Penn State, and chief development officer, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine. “Their support at every level has provided the resources our institution needs to transform medicine and health care.”

For more information about giving to Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine, contact the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations at 717-531-8497.

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