(Host) Lyndon State College announced a one million dollar gift this week, from the outdoor clothing company Carhartt. As VPR’s Patti Daniels reports, it’s part of a major fundraising effort at Lyndon State.
(Daniels) Carhartt is based in Dearborn, Michigan, but its gift to a Vermont college comes from a personal connection:
(Mark Valade) "I chose Lyndon because I wanted to be in a rural environment and really enjoyed it. Enjoyed the academics and really enjoyed the environment."
(Daniels) Years before Mark Valade took over the family business as CEO of Carhartt, he studied sociology and business as a member of the Lyndon State Class of ’78. His family’s philanthropy extends to jazz festivals and hospital buildings, but Valade says this million dollar gift represents his own philanthropic goal:
(Valade) "For me personally, it’s really about education. And what education can do to help people and better their lives."
(Daniels) Most of the Carhartt money will be awarded as scholarships to Northeast Kingdom students who are the first in their families to attend college. And Carhartt will pay for a new "advising resource center" that will help students make it all the way to graduation. The school will also buy 10 acres of land for future expansion.
The gift kicks off a multi-million dollar capital campaign that College officials say is the largest private fundraising effort attempted by any of the Vermont State Colleges. Carol Moore is president of Lyndon State:
(Moore) "In order to accomplish the things we need to accomplish to keep our programs competitive, and provide an excellent education for our students, we need to look to private resources."
(Daniels) State funding makes up 18 percent of Lyndon’s $24 million budget. Moore says the college can’t rely on tuition to make up the balance.
(Moore) "This is our first effort and if we’re successful I think it will boost everybody’s morale – faculty, staff and students – to think that there is that much support externally for the College and what we are doing."
(Daniels) Lyndon State College is aiming for a successful conclusion to its capital campaign in 2011 – the school’s 100th anniversary.
VPR News, I’m Patti Daniels.