Calvin Announces Major Campaign

The biggest fundraising project in Calvin College's history launches today, Wednesday, September 19 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. "No Greater Task: Hearts and Minds Renewing God's World" is a $150 million capital campaign that Calvin president Gaylen Byker says will be vital to the college's future.

"We are at a critical time in the college's history with significant challenges facing us in the areas of scholarships and financial aid, faculty research, campus funding and new buildings," he says. "The Campaign for Calvin College has been carefully designed to meet not just the needs of today, but also the needs of tomorrow."

Already $120 million of the $150 million goal has been raised during the leadership gift portion of the Campaign. Calvin employees have pledged $3.5 million of that amount (with an 85 percent participation rate), a commitment Byker says "has helped us significantly as we presented the needs of the college to donors." Campaign festivities began Tuesday, September 18, with a special chapel service of dedication and an afternoon celebration complete with root beer floats served on the Commons lawn.

A brand-new Campaign Web site is unveiled today, complete with stories and maps of where alumni are at work in the world, a live webcam of work on the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex (a $49.5 million component in the Campaign), a video clip of President Byker answering frequently asked Campaign questions and an on-line giving option.

The Calvin Wire newsletter is a bulletin of the Calvin Alumni Association sent to alumni and friends of Calvin College to inform them of the latest news from campus.