Philanthropy in Review

Building a Great University

hroughout history, philanthropy has played a crucial role in advancing teaching and research. Some of the world's greatest scientists, artists, and philosophers have pursued their ambitions and dreams with the support of those who shared their vision and felt their passion. Without the encouragement and financial backing of those patrons, phenomenal discoveries in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, biology, and engineering might never have occurred. That tradition of creative partnership continues today. Researchers and scholars are as dependent as ever on private philanthropy that allows them to pursue important initiatives. The faculty of the University of Miami is no exception.

Like most universities, the University of Miami relies heavily on competitive research funding from federal sources; however, private philanthropy from foundations, corporations, and individuals is increasingly important in helping fund institutional priorities. These commitments help endow professorships; fund graduate fellowships and scholarships; and provide much-needed laboratories, studios, classrooms, and other facilities.

Our University is fortunate to have loyal alumni and friends who recognize they can play an active and important role in helping the institution attain even greater levels of success and prestige. This year, alumni and friends have been particularly generous, contributing a record $85.7 million to support the schools, colleges, and programs at the University. Alumni support, in particular, has increased 13.8 percent over the past five years and now accounts for 16.1 percent of total giving to the University.

Although numerous individuals and organizations made contributions to the University of Miami this year, several gifts merit special recognition:

- The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation donated the Diabetes Research Institute Building to the University of Miami and also contributed $4.1 million to fund the Martin Kleiman Endowed Investigatorship in Diabetes Research, the Stacy Joy Goodman Chair in Diabetes Research, and for support of the Diabetes Research Institute in the School of Medicine.

- Computer Associates International, Inc., contributed software licenses and cash totaling $5.1 million in support of the College of Engineering.

- Lois B. Pope donated $4 million in support of her $10 million pledge to the Lois Pope Life Center at the School of Medicine.

- Through the James L. Knight Lead Trust, $2.1 million was received on the multiyear trust and used to fund the Knight Physics Building.

- The Buoniconti Fund contributed $2.1 million to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in the School of Medicine.

- The estate of Mary L. Metzger provided $1.7 million in support of public accounting in the School of Business Administration.

- The Applebaum Foundation, Inc., donated $1.3 million in support of various programs at the School of Medicine and the Rosenstiel School.

- Nelson Lancione, Sr., created a charitable remainder annuity trust valued at $1.2 million in support of the football program in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

- Knight-Ridder, Inc., donated $1 million to various programs at the University of Miami.

- Candice Barrs gave $1 million in support of The Miami Project Building Fund, The Burn Center, and for research in pediatric dermatology in the School of Medicine.

- The Papanicolaou Women's Corps for Cancer Research, Inc., contributed $1 million to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in the School of Medicine.

- Thomas A. Curtis donated $999,993 to create two charitable remainder trusts for the Burn Center and the Ear Institute in the School of Medicine.

- The estate of Sara H. Woodruff provided $931,000 in support of research in the School of Medicine.

- Beryl L. Cesarano created a charitable gift annuity and property with a retained life estate agreement valued at $900,874 to name the Patrick Cesarano Plaza in the School of Business Administration and the Patrick Cesarano Laboratory in the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine. With funds donated from others, the Patrick Cesarano Classroom in the School of Business Administration also was named.

- The Ophthalmology Research Foundation donated $809,061 in support of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the School of Medicine.

- The Campilli Family donated a collection valued at $770,340 in support of the Cuban Heritage Collection at the Otto G. Richter Library.

- Hale Piano, Inc., through the Yamaha School Loan Program, donated pianos valued at $700,000 in support of the School of Music.

- The Muscular Dystrophy Association donated $629,961 to the Kessenich Family MDA/ALS Center and for other sponsored projects in the School of Medicine.

- The estate of Edith June Leach Blyler provided $610,573 in support of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the School of Medicine.

- The Schwarzkopf Cup event raised $610,573 for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in the School of Medicine.

- The Women's Cancer Association of the University of Miami donated $565,000 to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in the School of Medicine.

- The Peacock Foundation, Inc., donated $511,000 in support of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in the School of Medicine.

- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute awarded a grant of $500,000 in support of the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.

- The United Distillers and Vintners North America, Inc., contributed $499,300 to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in the School of Medicine.

- Paul G. Himmelright II donated $482,913 to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in the School of Medicine.

- The estate of Olivia Hand provided $481,265 in support of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the School of Medicine.

- The Dade Community Foundation provided $472,575 in gifts and grants to various programs at the University of Miami.

- The estate of Jean L. Haynes provided $456,526 in support of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the School of Medicine.

- Helen Herold created a gift annuity valued at $453,250 in support of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in the School of Medicine.

These leadership gifts are tremendous expressions of the confidence and trust our alumni and friends have in the University of Miami. Such exemplary gifts-along with more than 34,000 other contributions to the University this year-help us achieve our missions of research, teaching, and community service.

As we embrace the new millennium, we rededicate ourselves to the continued advancement of this wonderful institution. Each day we must remind ourselves that there simply is no end to the building of a great university. Our alumni and friends have been most gracious and generous in moving the University forward, and we continue to rely on them for the private support that is so critical to our success. We thank them for their generosity and for their investment in the noble, still very young, enterprise known as the University of Miami.

Michael Rierson
Vice President for University Advancement