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TCNJ Celebrates Successful Campaign at “Many Thanks Gala”

On Friday, August 25, TCNJ announced its first-ever capital campaign raised $47.6 million, far exceeding its goal of $40 million. The announcement took place at the “Many Thanks Gala,” a celebratory event attended by over 200 trustees, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and other distinguished guests that took place in the newly renovated Brower Student Center.

“We came together to celebrate the impact this campaign has had and will continue to have on this amazing institution and the extraordinary students it serves,” said TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein.

Prior to the campaign’s launch, TCNJ sought the input of expert consultants to help determine the feasibility of a comprehensive campaign and how much the college might expect to raise through such an effort. Their answer was $25 million.

Striving to far exceed that total, TCNJ opened the campaign in July 2012 with a goal of raising $40 million in five years to support four core priorities: student support, academic enrichment, capital improvements, and student experience.

That original goal was reached five months early, and the Board of Trustees challenged the college to raise an additional $5 million in the remaining five months, declaring it the “Five-in-Five Challenge.”

That stretch goal represented a 12.5 percent increase over the campaign’s original target of $40 million—a figure that many thought was unattainable. But on May 24, 2017 that lofty benchmark also was attained.

“In true TCNJ style, we not only met our goal, we greatly surpassed it,” Gitenstein said. “But it’s not just the money raised that gives us cause for celebration, it’s what this support means in human terms. Our students were always at the heart of this campaign, and they are central to its four priorities.”

The campaign was co-chaired by Barbara Pelson `59 and Allen Silk, chair of the executive board of The College of New Jersey Foundation.

“Over the last five years, more than 13,000 donors came forward to lend their support,” Pelson said. “Students and alumni. Faculty and staff. Parents and Friends. Corporations and Foundations. We are humbled by the outpouring of support.”

While thrilled with the results of this inaugural campaign, TCNJ will continue to pursue support to ensure its students receive the best possible experience during and after their time at the college.

“I remain committed to TCNJ because of its importance to the people it serves and the region, its commitment to excellence in everything that it does, and the outstanding leadership that guides it,” said Silk.


TCNJ Campaign By the Numbers

7 Number of donations of $1 million or greater
75 New scholarships that will be funded
$4,281 Average amount of individual giving by alumni from 1950s (the most of
any decade)
10,859 Number of donations under $10,000
$136,00 Amount raised on second annual TCNJ Day of Giving (November 2016)
$250,000 Amount raised in final 24 hours
$6.6 million Amount of largest donation (given by Helene Fuld)
$25 million Portion of donations that will be dedicated to student support, the largest allocation category

The TCNJ “Many Thanks Gala” was sponsored by TD Bank, Sodexo and Janet Makrancy’s Weddings and Parties.

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