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Jersey City, N.J. – July 10, 2024 – �鶹��Ƶ’s University is proud to announce that Peacocks Rise: The Campaign for �鶹��Ƶ’s University, the University’s largest and most successful fundraising campaign which officially concluded on June 30, raised in excess of $86 million, surpassing its goal of $75 million.

“Peacocks Rise has truly transformed �鶹��Ƶ’s, enhancing the University’s ability to provide exceptional educational opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities and robust support for our students,” said Kathleen M. McKenna, Esq. ’75, campaign co-chair. “This campaign’s success underscores the profound impact that collective effort and shared vision can have on the future of our institution. We are deeply grateful to every donor who contributed to this historic achievement.”

Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05, vice president for advancement and external affairs, led the efforts of the advancement team since the campaign’s silent phase began in January 2017. According to Leto there were some other important results that underscore the unprecedented momentum of this campaign. “Of the nearly 10,000 donors who answered the call to rise with us during this campaign, over 6,000 of them made their largest gift ever during Peacocks Rise – including the two largest gifts in University history. My team and I are honored to have been a part of such a transformational moment for �鶹��Ƶ’s.”

Peacocks Rise targeted four major priorities – Transformational Scholarships, Signature Facilities, Greater Distinction and Unrestricted Giving.

1. Transformational Scholarships Secured. Donor-funded scholarships play a critical role in ensuring the affordability of a �鶹��Ƶ’s education. A very significant number of deserving students, many of whom also have significant need, have benefited from the nearly $25 million in scholarship funding raised during the tenure of Peacocks Rise. A substantial portion of these funds have created new endowments, ensuring continued impact on future Peacocks. In fact, one-third of the University’s donor-funded endowed scholarships were established during the tenure of Peacocks Rise.

2. Signature Facilities Revitalized. Since the beginning of Peacocks Rise �鶹��Ƶ’s has made significant strides to upgrade and renovate signature facilities. Athletics, recreation and peacock pride received a big boost with the opening of the Run Baby Run Arena in 2021, named in honor of the storied 1968 men’s basketball team by teammate and lead benefactor, Thomas P. Mac Mahon ’68. The renovated arena is the home court for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and volleyball team.The University also unveiled a modernized Dinneen Hall in 2021, home to the Frank J. Guarini School of Business. Experiential education has been enhanced with the addition of a global finance lab, collaboration commons, new classrooms, project rooms and more. These and other advances were made possible by a $10 million gift from Hon. Frank J. Guarini H ’94 in 2019, at the time the largest in University history. He was later joined at this extraordinary level of support by longtime benefactor Joseph A. Panepinto, Esq. ’66.Since 2020, students and faculty have made productive use of the dedicated space and resources in the Theresa and Edward O’Toole Library’s Digital Research Commons. The transformation has not only modernized the facilities but has also revitalized the library as the premier campus destination for quiet study, collaboration, computing and digital scholarship.

3. Greater Distinction Realized. Peacocks Rise generated investments in students and infrastructure that advanced health sciences and STEM to next-level excellence, including generous donor support for the expansion of Nursing labs and a special internship fund, making new career opportunities a reality for many of the University’s STEM Honors students. The University also increased the visibility of athletics fundraising over the course of Peacocks Rise through the establishment of Peacock Nation Day, an annual day of giving that benefits the athletics department and its teams. The support of Peacock Nation helped propel the 2021-22 men’s basketball team into the national spotlight during the unprecedented run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA championships. Additionally, the greatest distinction of a �鶹��Ƶ’s education is the University’s Jesuit identity and commitment to living out Ignatian values of compassion, integrity and courage. Gifts of all sizes to the campaign sustained a robust array of academic, campus ministry and liturgical programs that engage all faiths and traditions.

4. Unrestricted Giving Propels the Mission. More than 6,500 donors chose not to specify the use of their gift to �鶹��Ƶ’s, allowing the University the greatest flexibility to meet its greatest needs, capitalize on opportunities and sustain the institution’s mission. The impact of unrestricted giving has a profound impact on students. Undergraduates facing unprecedented financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic were able to stay the course and graduate because of additional assistance made possible by unrestricted giving.

Now retired President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., H ’24, publicly announced the campaign total at “Hearts & Minds: The �鶹��Ƶ’s University Scholarship Celebration” on June 13, at which he also received the Magis Award in recognition of his profound accomplishments on behalf of �鶹��Ƶ’s. Prior to Peacocks Rise, the largest capital campaign at �鶹��Ƶ’s was Students at the Center, which raised a total of $64.2 million at its conclusion in December 2014.

“As we celebrate the remarkable success of Peacocks Rise, we look forward to the next chapter at �鶹��Ƶ’s University with our new president, Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D., at the helm,” said Anthony O. Pergola, Esq. ’92, campaign co-chair. “We have laid a solid foundation for the University’s continued growth, and we are excited to build on this momentum and continue to propel engagement and philanthropy to greater heights to enrich the lives of our students and community.”

For more information, or to make a gift to �鶹��Ƶ’s University, please visit saintpeters.edu/campaign. .

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For more than 150 years, �鶹��Ƶ’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit .

Media Contact
Angeline Boyer
aboyer1@saintpeters.edu
(201) 761-6238