Eastern Kentucky University’s Center for Economic Education has received a $500,000 gift.
A $250,000 gift from an anonymous donor was matched by an equal amount from the Commonwealth through the Regional University Excellence Trust Fund, also known as Bucks for Brains.
The gift brings the total of gifts and pledges raised in the leadership phase of EKU’s comprehensive capital campaign to $5,003,818.
“As we move forward with Eastern Kentucky University’s first comprehensive capital campaign, this gift sets a wonderful example of how our alumni and friends are having a tremendous impact on the quality of education at this institution,” said EKU President Joanne Glasser.
“Giving from the heart, as demonstrated by this true friend of EKU, cannot be overstated. It is the benevolence of such alumni and friends that will enable EKU to become an institution of national distinction, and for that, I am most grateful.”
Dr. Cynthia Harter, Center director, said: “This incredibly generous gift will transform our Center by allowing us to establish a permanent structure with staffing and regular programming. We view the state match of the funds as a vote of support for economic literacy in our region.
“It all adds up to enduring value to our community and beyond as more students are helped to develop the real-life economic and financial skills they need to make good choices and succeed as productive participants in a global economy. We are excited about the opportunities we will be able to provide and encourage teachers to contact the Center and express any specific needs in the areas of economic and financial education.”
Harter said the gift will enable the Center to provide numerous programs for area schoolteachers, including: Financial Fitness programs for K-12 teachers and parents, Stock Market Game workshops that cover investment concepts, “Economics and Real Life,” “Economics Extravaganza” and other professional development workshops for teachers, and a “Professors in the Schools” program.
The gift will also enhance undergraduate and graduate instruction at EKU by providing additional seminars, scholarships and other resources.
“Additional funding will allow us to provide materials and opportunities for the pre-service teachers, “Harter said, “so that they might be more likely to develop an interest in economics and knowledge needed to teach it to their future students.”
In 2002, the Center completed a project, “Development of Baseline Data on the Status of Economic Education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” the results of which were shared with the Kentucky Economics Association and the National Council on Economic Education, as well as with the Governor’s Office and the Commissioner of Education.
“We would like to continue research in this area, “ Harter said, “in order to provide useful data on how Kentucky’s students learn economics and what kinds of programs and activities are achieving the best results.”
EKU’s capital campaign, the first such comprehensive effort in the University’s will continue in its quiet phase through October 2005, after which the public phase of the campaign will begin. This leadership gifts portion of the campaign focuses on those individuals, corporations and foundations with the potential for gifts and pledges in the six-figure range and up.
Campaign donations, which can be designated for a specific purpose by donors, will go toward five categories, as recommended by a Presidential Committee on Campaign Priorities. Forty percent of all funds raised through the campaign will go to meet the needs of Eastern students through funding for scholarships, internships and enrichment opportunities. Fifteen percent each will go to faculty needs, academic programs, campus improvements and new initiatives.
For more information about giving opportunities at EKU, contact the University Development Office, 859-622-1583.
