The University of Houston System (UHS) raised a record-setting $117.8 million in private support in 2012-2013, the largest total in the institution’s history. At the University of Houston (UH), the system’s flagship university, fundraising exceeded $110.3 million, also a record.
These totals tell an encouraging story of fundraising success as they surpass last year’s record-setting figures of $112.5 million for the UH System and $109 million for UH. The milestones coincide with the arrival two years ago of chief external affairs officer Eloise Stuhr.
“We’re very grateful to our donors and friends and look forward to ensuring that their gifts – which are so crucial to maintaining excellence in our programs – help shape the University for generations to come,” said Stuhr, vice president for Advancement at UH and vice chancellor for Advancement for the UH System.
Among the significant gifts to UH in the past year are a $2.3 million gift from Schlumberger to advance the University’s Energy Research Park and $2 million from the Huffington Foundation and Ronald and Mariette Woestemeyer to support research for early diagnosis and treatment of disease.
More than 26,000 alumni, friends, foundations and corporations contributed to UH, advancing the University’s student success initiatives through their support for academic enhancements such as the renovation and modernization of laboratories and the establishment of electronic classrooms.
The fundraising success comes at a crucial time for the UH System and its four universities, as they seek to further improve educational experiences by allocating money toward current and future scholarships, programs and faculty development opportunities.
Among the UH System components, UH-Clear Lake raised more than $2.6 million, UH-Downtown raised $2.5 million and UH-Victoria received gifts totaling more than $1.8 million.
“These generous gifts are visionary, and they will shape our future and transform the lives of our students,” Stuhr said. “While we have experienced an historic year for philanthropy, it is paramount that we continue to raise institutional funds through private giving to sustain our momentum and fulfill our commitment to student success.”
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
The University of Houston System is a comprehensive system of higher education institutions serving to further the intellectual capital and economic strength of the Gulf Coast region. The UH System includes the University of Houston, a nationally recognized Tier One public research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year undergraduate university expanding into graduate programs; the University of Houston-Victoria, a four-year university with undergraduate and master’s level degree programs; and the University of Houston- Clear Lake, an upper-division and master’s level institution. The system also includes three branch campuses, UH-Clear Lake Pearland, UH System - Northwest and UH Sugar Land, as well as a multi-institution teaching center, UH System Cinco Ranch. In addition, the System owns and operates Houston Public Media (HPM). HPM comprises KUHF-FM, Houston’s National Public Radio station; KUHA-FM, Houston’s 24-hour classical music station; and KUHT-TV, the nation’s first educational television station. To learn more about the UH System, visit http://www.uhsa.uh.edu/.