Carolina's Promise

Reprinted from the Fall 2011 edition of InterCom

My family recently enjoyed an afternoon at the Colonial Cup Steeplechase in Camden. Twenty years had passed since my last steeplechase experience. I admit this experience was different with our 8-year old son and two nephews in tow.

Though the three boys cheered their favorite horses with equal excitement, only one of them was able to claim that his horse was the winner. No matter how well the horses started, what mattered in the end was their finish. To some extent, the same can be said about other life experiences. Education. Sports. Careers. Parenting. And, yes, even fundraising.

The University of South Carolina recently declared its own sort of race as we announced Carolina's Promise, a history making capital campaign that will raise at least $1 billion before June 30, 2015. These new resources will allow the university to implement Focus Carolina, the comprehensive strategic plan which outlines key decision making for the university's future, specifically focusing upon quality, leadership, innovation, diversity, access, global engagement and community engagement. Focus Carolina provides the vision for Carolina's Promise, the most ambitious campaign ever to support higher education in South Carolina. The university has already raised more than half of its campaign goal. So to borrow a saying from the racing world, "Our horse is just more than half way around the track." While that is indeed promising, our success will largely be determined by our finish.

The College of Mass Communications and Information Studies will continue to concentrate our fundraising efforts on our key funding initiatives. We cannot be successful without talented and engaged volunteers. Our existing Alumni Society Steering Committee and Dean's Circle Campaign Committee continue to push forward with ideas and contributions. There will be new volunteer opportunities in the year ahead. I hope you'll give me a call if there is something here that potentially interests you.

Specifically, we will:
• Look to alumni to host alumni connection events
• Create a volunteer group supporting our campaign awareness building efforts, including use of social media
• Launch efforts of the J-school's building development committee
• Seek greater involvement as we continue to broaden and deepen our literacy fundraising efforts
• Recruit and educate current students as philanthropic ambassadors.

I have already received questions from alumni asking if gifts to our two schools count toward Carolina's Promise. Yes, absolutely. Think of Carolina's Promise as the overarching campaign that colleges and schools help support. Your ability to make a major gift is likely easier than you may think. For example, did you know that a partially endowed scholarship can be created by making a gift of $5,000 for five consecutive years? Or that remembering the university in your estate plans advances Carolina's Promise? Every gift made to Carolina's Promise, be it $5 or $500, has a cumulative effect that will positively impact Carolina.

Carolina's Promise is a focused opportunity for all of us to become excited again, about what was, and still is, most meaningful to us at Carolina. Dean Bierbauer draws the big picture in his column in this issue. As fellow alumni or Carolina friends, we must recognize and care about what Carolina's Promise means to our university, to our state and to our future students and faculty.

While we all have a horse in this race, we recognize there is competition in our quest for the roses. Just as a jockey's pink silks might present momentary distraction, the course can also be full of hurdles and redirection. We are not the only horse on the track. We would, however, be most grateful to be your chosen pick.

See you in the Winner's Circle.