Photo courtesy of Jandoli School of Communication. Concept art for the design of The Jandoli School of Communication.
BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A fundraising campaign that touches a bit of everything for the St. Bonaventure community launched publicly Sept. 12.
“It’s been 164 years and we just want to build on that legacy and propel it forward,” said Bob Van Wicklin, vice president for university advancement. “The next time somebody has a campaign, they look back and say, ‘Wow, they really set the groundwork for success. Here are some things we can do to build on that.’”
The campaign “A Bolder Bonaventure: Ignite. Inspire. Invest.” reflects Bonaventure’s history and future. It seeks to raise $125 million by May 31, 2025.
“It’s going everywhere throughout the campus, in academics and athletics, basically anywhere you can think of at the university, something in the campaign is touching that,” Van Wicklin said.
The campaign’s priorities include broadening the learning environment within the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions, transforming the athletic facilities, modernizing faculties within The Jandoli School of Communications, improving student experience, delivering the Franciscan experience and boosting The Bonaventure Fund.
“Personally, I’m excited for the rest of the money to be raised for the school health professionals facility, because that’s honestly the first thing out of the gate for us,” Van Wicklin said. “Getting that last 2 million for the facility out of the way, for me, will be the first big accomplishment of the campaign.”
The Jandoli School of Communications is the next building after Plassmann Hall to undergo renovations.
“People have talked about this for a long time. So for me, the thing I’m most the most excited is to actually get it done,” said Aaron Chimbel, dean of The Jandoli School of Communication. “For a long time, the question was ‘Can we do this?’ … ‘How are we going to make this happen?’ Now the conversation has shifted from if to when.”
The athletic facilities will be renovated as well to help Bonaventure compete with other A-10 schools.
“I’m looking forward to, for instance, walking into two buildings that have been here for a while, the Reilly center … and the Jandoli building … and just being wowed by the feel you get when you walk in and see the difference,” Van Wicklin said.
So far, more than $75 million has been raised since the quiet phase of the campaign began in June 2018 including one $6 million gift, the largest Bonaventure has ever received, 12 individual million-dollar commitments and nearly 50,000 contributors giving $5,000 or less.
“There are other things that really make an impact. We have collected over 44 different endowed scholarships,” Van Wicklin said. “Endowed scholarships are really when somebody gives, the minimum is $50,000 but it could be more than that, to our endowment that will spin off a scholarship for a student in perpetuity.”
The idea of bold has been strung throughout Bonaventure’s spirit.
“The alumni, the students are bold. They are not shy. They are people who are proud of being Bonnies and they want everybody to know they’re Bonnies … With athletics, we’re always punching above our weight class. We’re always kind of the underdog and we’re taking bold steps to get the win,” Van Wicklin said. “We call this the campaign for a Bolder Bonaventure because we’re bold, but we can be bolder.”
Everyone can get involved in the campaign through donating or spreading the word.
“That’s the easiest way, both in giving and also being that that sort of megaphone that says, ‘Hey, you need to give to Bonaventure’s campaign, I gave and I’m asking you to give too,’” Van Wicklin said.
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
