UW Foundation launches campaign

Merry Anderson

The UW Foundation is hosting UW–Madison supporters this weekend as it launches the public phase of Create the Future: The Wisconsin Campaign. On Friday, Oct. 10, an unprecedented gathering of boards of visitors, committee members and campaign volunteers from around the world will join campus leaders at a campaign summit at Memorial Union to discuss plans and strategies for the fund-raising effort.

This capital campaign, which continues through 2006, is the most ambitious UW–Madison has ever undertaken.

The weekend continues with an evening dinner and program at Monona Terrace Convention Center. Noted alumni and guests will share personal stories about the transforming effect of UW–Madison and how their years there shaped their lives.

Following the weekend activities, events throughout the country and abroad will bring together people interested in investing in UW–Madison’s future.

The UW Foundation also is working with Chancellor John Wiley, and the deans and directors of the schools, colleges and other program units to identify individual and campuswide projects to which donors can designate gifts to support specific areas of interest. The campaign will incorporate current fund-raising efforts for the HealthStar and BioStar initiatives as well as proposed redevelopment of the east campus. Additional investment options include faculty chairs and professorships to recruit and retain top teachers and researchers; support for undergraduate and graduate students; and programs encompassing the Wisconsin Idea.

“Never before has the university been stronger or better positioned to provide a donor with a magnificent return on philanthropic investment,” says Sandy Wilcox, president of the UW Foundation. “Prior campaigns appealed for help to meet needs. “Create the Future: The Wisconsin Campaign’ offers our donors a wealth of opportunities to build on the university’s position of success and strength.”

Wade Fetzer (’59 B.S.) and Paul Collins (’58 B.B.A.) are the campaign co-chairs.

Fetzer is a former chair of the foundation’s board of directors and serves on the Athletics Advisory Council. With his wife, Beverly, he provided the funds that created the Fetzer Center to benefit student athletes. The couple provided the lead gift for the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s Below Center. Fetzer became a limited partner with Goldman Sachs & Co. in 1998.

Collins recently retired as vice chair of Citigroup. He served on the foundation board in the 1980s and was re-elected following his retirement. He served on the School of Business dean’s advisory board, and he established 16 graduate fellowships in performance in the School of Music.