The RISE campaign has reached almost 70 percent of its goal
By Kate Peifer Staff Writer peifer14@up.edu
The RISE Campaign is well on its way to achieving its goal of $175 million.
The campaign, which was publicly announced last December, has currently raised around $118 million, according to Vice President of University Relations, Jim Lyons.
"In fact, I would say we are about $10 million ahead of the plan," Lyons said.
This lead is due in part to six donations from various donors. An anonymous donor gave $2.5 million to help fund a new recreation center and a renovated library. Construction for both buildings will begin in the next two to three years, according to Lyons.
Earle Chiles also gave a "leadership gift" of a private amount to renovate the men's locker facilities in Chiles Center.
In memory of their son, Roger Colatorti, who graduated from UP in 1989, Joe and Pearl Colatorti donated $1.2 million in May of 2009. The money will help fund the Roger J. Colatorti Endowed Memorial Scholarship and will be given to incoming freshmen majoring in English.
Last May, a donation of $104,000 was given from the estate of Norris and Margaret Melcher, an aunt and uncle of Rev. John Donato, C.S.C., the vice president of Student Life.
The fund is for students who wish to study abroad during the summer.
"My aunt always wanted to come back to the West Coast and loved traveling," Donato said. "It's a way to further kids' love for learning and traveling."
A $250,000 pledge from Richard and Diane VanGrunsven will help fund an experimental mechanics lab in Donald P. Shiley Hall. VanGrunsven graduated from the UP in 1961.
A $64,605 gift from Jack Teske will be placed in two existing scholarships from the Teske family. The gift was given in November of 2010. Teske is the father of four University of Portland alumni.
According to Lyons, the scholarships and funds from VanGrunsven and Teske will be immediately implemented for University students.
"I was surprised at how well we've done," Lyons said. " I give credit to the great and wildly successful students."
