TCNJ

8 SUMMER 2015 J OHN QUIMBY MAY WELL HAVE BEEN CONFLICTED BY the proceedings of April 25, but the crowd that gathered upon the prairie that bears his name to celebrate the launch of The Campaign for TCNJ was decidedly not. "The mood on campus was electric that day," says Terri Martinac '72, MEd '73, a member of the campaign steering committee. "I've never seen the community so enthused." Legend has it that Quimby, the college's persnickety business manager in the 1930s and '40s, had a penchant for scolding anyone who trod on the grass in front of Green Hall. His doggedness in that pursuit prompted students to nickname the quad in his honor. Imagine his reaction had he seen the thousand or so members of the TCNJ community gathered there, amid all the pomp and pageantry befitting an historic event, to listen as President R. Barbara Gitenstein announced the first comprehensive fundraising effort in the college's 160-year history. The campaign's goal, said the president, is to raise at least $40 million by June 2017, helping to ensure that "a TCNJ education continues to be both exceptional and accessible for hardworking, promising students." Fussy fescue lover Quimby might have been horror-struck to see his beloved sod trampled, but Quimby the financier would have cheered this college-wide effort to help ensure the institution has the resources needed to achieve its vision in an era of ever-declining state support. And he'd have been equally happy to hear the campaign had already raised nearly $25 million by the time of its public launch. The college can point to numerous points in its history where decisive action pushed the institution forward, and, in the rearview mirror, launching an era of private giving may ultimately be seen as one of those. "TCNJ has a tremendous educational momentum going, which makes this the perfect time to foster a culture of philanthropy within our community," says John Donohue, vice-president for college advancement. "I'm seeing energy and commitment from people—from alumni to educational partners to parents—every step of the way," he says. "We all want to see the college thrive. The spirit we saw at the launch is confirmation we're heading in the right direction." One of the first gifts to put the campaign on track during its quiet phase came from Barbara Meyers Pelson '59: Gift THE PRAIRIE Me This TCNJ's academic reputation keeps climbing. What will it take to move the needle further? The Campaign for TCNJ Subtitled "Innovate, Inspire, Engage," the college's inaugural campaign seeks to raise at least $40 million by June 2017. Here's where the money is needed most: Student Support Goal: $20 million To support scholarships, fellowships, and innovative learning that ensures deserving TCNJ students can focus on fulfilling their promise. Academic Enrichment Goal: $4 million To support faculty research and scholarship, and help TCNJ attract and retain top scholars and students. Student Experience Goal: $14 million To create and support mentored, practice-based study and oppor- tunities to learn and lead in the community and across the globe. Capital Improvement Goal: $2 million To subsidize construction of the STEM Complex, which will give science and engineering students access to modern labs and the cross-disciplinary environments embraced by industry innovators. Source: campaign.tcnj.edu

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