The University of Southern Indiana says it has reached its $50 million capital campaign goal ahead of schedule, thanks in part to a major gift from an alumnus.
The campaign, which USI calls "Elevating Excellence," has been ongoing since October 2011. An initial "quiet phase" of the campaign raised $26.7 million in gifts and commitments.
USI launched the public phase of the campaign in April 2013. Its original plan was to reach the $50 million mark by December 2015 and to close campaign solicitations on June 30, 2016.
On Thursday, the university announced that it has achieved its fundraising goal early with help of alumnus Keith Jewell.
Jewell graduated from USI in 1986, and he now serves as president of St. Mary's Health System.
Jewell initially made a major gift commitment in 2010, the school said, but in August of this year he increased his gift commitment to $2 million.
"We are extremely grateful to Keith Jewell and all of our donors who continue to elevate the excellence of USI by their engagement with us, by sharing their expertise, their time, and their financial support," USI President Linda Bennett said in a news release.
The announcement was made at a USI Foundation board meeting.
As of this week, the Elevating Excellence campaign has secured just more than $55 million in total gifts and commitments.
USI noted that Jewell's large donation bookends the Elevating Excellence campaign. In 2013, alumni Ron Romain (class of 1973) and his wife, Connie Dartt Romain (class of 1974), kicked off the public phase of the campaign with a $5 million gift.
Money raised through Elevating Excellence will be put to a number of uses: scholarships, endowments, construction projects, academic support, athletics and to support USI's Annual Fund.