Fork Union Military Academy Press Release
Fork Union Military Academy

Fork Union Military Academy Exceeds Capital Campaign Goal 18 Months Ahead of Schedule


Fork Union, VA - September 12, 2007 - The largest fundraising effort in the history of Fork Union Military Academy has been completed 18 months earlier than expected and has exceeded its $29 million goal by more than $2.3 million, the Academy announced today. A surprising challenge from an anonymous donor helped push the "Securing the Promise" capital campaign to its remarkable early conclusion and drive the total amount raised far above the goal.

 

Gifts and pledges totaling $31.3 million, collected since January 2003 as part of the capital campaign, will support student scholarships, faculty development, and capital improvements throughout the school's campus.

 

"Every student, teacher, and school program will benefit from this campaign," said the Academy's president, Lt. Gen. John E. Jackson, Jr. "We give the credit and thanks to the Lord first of all, and to the 2,595 friends, family, and alumni who helped us meet and exceed our goal."
 
Rising to the Challenge
 

The "Securing the Promise" capital campaign was launched in January 2003 with a "silent phase" during which time commitments and pledges were solicited from major benefactors and the Academy was able to test the interest and ability of the school's principal donors in supporting the campaign. This silent phase was so successful, powered in part by an early $3 million pledge from an alumnus, that the Academy went public with the capital campaign in April 2005 and increased the fundraising goal from the original $25 million target to the ultimate goal of $29 million, $18 million of which had already been raised. Campaign efforts continued on schedule and by May 2007 the Academy had raised gifts and pledges of $24 million and anticipated raising the final $5 million by the end of 2008.

 

An anonymous donor stepped forward in May to offer a challenge: if the Academy raised the next $4 million, he would give $1 million to help reach the goal. The donor had one important condition for his gift.  The $4 million dollars must be raised by July 1, 2007. In other words, the money the Academy had expected to raise over the course of nearly 600 days would have to be raised within the next 60 days.

 

The Academy's President, Development Department, Board of Trustees, and Campaign Cabinet jumped into action contacting potential donors, soliciting second and third gifts from prior donors, and creating a mailing to go to the school's alumni and friends.

 

The checks and pledges began pouring in as the school's alumni and supporters stepped forward, rising to this new challenge. By the time July 1st arrived, the Academy had met the goal. Because of the overwhelming response, the Academy continued to count gifts and pledges throughout the month of July so that all might participate in this historic effort. Between May 4, 2007, when the challenge was issued, and July 31, 2007 the Academy received $6.3 million in new gifts and pledges. The anonymous donor added his $1 million pledge bringing the total raised by the campaign to $31, 344, 813.45.

 

New Scholarship Funds

 

Ten new endowed scholarship funds were established by this campaign. Each of these new scholarship funds has already exceeded the minimum funding level of $25,000 required by the school's Board of Trustees to allow scholarships to be distributed from the endowed fund's earnings. These new scholarship funds represent at least one-fourth of all the fully-funded endowed scholarship funds available to the Academy. In addition, at least ten percent of the school's endowed scholarship accounts that were below the $25,000 minimum funding level were increased to fully-funded status through the campaign and are now available to produce scholarship grants for students.

 

Endowment Growth

 

The Academy's endowment, totaling $11.4 million at the start of the campaign, has grown to a total of $20.5 million in contributions and earnings. This endowment growth of $9.1 million exceeded the campaign's goal of a $6.7 million increase.  The school's endowment represents gifts and bequests to the Academy from donors, whose funds are invested by the school to produce ongoing income. The principal remains intact while the income generated by those endowed funds is available for scholarships and other purposes. Increasing the endowment helps build financial security for the Academy's future.

 

New Facilities

 

The results of the capital campaign can already be seen on the campus of Fork Union Military Academy in the form of new buildings, additions, and renovations to existing structures.

 

The Beatty Library received a new addition, doubling the size of the library, adding three additional classrooms with multimedia presentation technology, a conference room, and a new library wing devoted to Middle School books and resources.

 

A new Aquatic Center with a state-of-the-art, 25-meter swimming pool was completed in time for the 2005-2006 swimming season and immediately saw results with Fork Union swimmers participating in State Championship finals for the first time in many years. A FUMA cadet, Will Trainor, broke a 17-year state record in the 100-yard freestyle and was voted Virginia State Championship Swimmer of the meet. The new Aquatic Center also hosts swim teams from area high schools and local clubs, and offers lifeguard classes and scuba certification classes for cadets and community.

 

New outdoor tennis courts with lights were constructed, and the indoor track and floor of the field house at the Estes Athletic Center were both resurfaced. A new wastewater treatment plant was built to provide improved service to the growing campus. The Wicker Chapel is being completely restored and renovated, and improvements are scheduled to the Alumni Gym used primarily by the school's middle school students.

 

Future projects include new soccer and lacrosse fields, renovation or replacement of barracks facilities, and the construction of an auditorium / convocation center for the Academy.

 

Capital Campaign Facts:

* The "Securing the Promise" campaign launched publicly on April 28, 2005.

* A total of 2,595 donors gave to the campaign.

* The largest gift to the campaign was $3 million given by an Academy alumnus.

* Gifts of $1 million or more were given by 9 donors.

* Gifts of $500,000 to $999,999 were given by 14 donors.

* The campaign resulted in the establishment of 10 new scholarship funds.

 
 
About Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia, is a college preparatory military boarding school for young men in Grades 6 through 12 and postgraduates. Affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and open to those of all religious denominations, Fork Union was founded in 1898 and has a rich tradition promoting character, leadership, and scholarship.
Fork Union Military Academy
Dan Thompson
Director of Communications