“Light the World” campaign co-chairs Charles I. Clough, Jr. ’64, Kathleen M. McGillycuddy NC ’71 and William J. Geary ’80 had ample reasons to be concerned about the October 2008 public launch of the largest capital campaign in Boston College history.
University President William P. Leahy, SJ, and the Board of Trustees had already committed to a “stretch campaign” with an ambitious $1.5 billion goal, more than triple the $441 million total raised in the “Ever to Excel” campaign of 1997-2003.
And then, just 11 days before the campaign launch, the financial markets collapsed.
“It was a very difficult time for the financial sector, and many of the trustees were connected to it,” said Clough. “I remember that there were discussions about the economy and some comparisons to the 1930s, but our faith in the campaign never wavered.”
McGillycuddy concurs. “We were cognizant of the severity of the downturn, and we had many discussions about it, but there was no support for delaying the campaign. We were all so committed to it, and had great confidence that a market tumble would not deter us.”
And so, amidst the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression — one that would ultimately include a 7,000-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the doubling of the unemployment rate — Boston College chose to move forward.
That decision was rewarded last month when the University reached its $1.5 billion goal, completing one of the most successful capital campaigns in American higher education this decade.
And yet, despite the campaign’s successes, its co-chairs remain adamant that much more needs to be done.
“While we should be immensely proud, our work is never done,” said McGillycuddy. “We are not wealthy in comparison to peer institutions, so we must continue to focus on the future, including gifts through the end of this fiscal year. Providing financial support for the University is a lifetime commitment.”
“I was a kid from inner-city Boston who grew up in a housing project and whose life was transformed by attending Boston College,” said Geary. “That need still exists; it transcends any campaign. There is joy and jubilation around the conclusion of a campaign, but the needs do not go away, which is why we encourage all donors to continue their support, especially through May 31.”
Through Light the World, Boston College has benefitted from $500 million in new initiatives in support of academic excellence, $293 million for financial aid, $188 million for campus construction projects, $101 million for student-formation programs and more than $100 million for BC Athletics, all of which have helped fuel the momentum that has enabled the University to rise to 30th in the US News rankings, its highest position to date. The campaign led to the naming of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, and to the construction of several landmark campus facilities including Stokes Hall, the new McMullen Museum of Art and the 490-bed residence hall at 2150 Commonwealth Avenue that will open this summer.
It has also led to the establishment of 31 assistant and full professorships, and to the endowment of several critical BC programs and positions including the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program, the Cooney Family PULSE Directorship, and Powers Family Deanship at the Carroll School of Management.
In addition, Light the World has funded several major research centers, such as the Institute for the Liberal Arts; Shea Center for Entrepreneurship; Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics; Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action; Clough Center for the Study of Constitutional Democracy; Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy; Lynch Leadership Academy; Roche Center for Catholic Education; McGillycuddy-Logue Center for Undergraduate Global Studies and the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies, among others.
In total, 130,000 BC alumni, parents and friends have made contributions to Light the World, and annual giving to Boston College has doubled from an average of $60 million in 2003 to $120 million today. Altogether, these successes have placed Boston College in the top five percent among educational institutions in the United States, according to the Voluntary Support for Education’s annual report, published by the Council for Aid to Education.
By every measure, Light the World has been a resounding success.
“The earlier campaigns were designed to fund specific needs,” said Clough. “Light the World was the first campaign to actually fund programs that would directly benefit BC students. It had a building and infrastructure component, but it also provided the opportunity to improve the quality of academic life on campus and the student experience, which was important to its success.”
Added McGillycuddy, “I attribute the success of the campaign to how tightly our communication was attached to our strategic vision and objectives, and how grounded it was in who we were as a university. It was an easy story to tell because it was so solidly built on the successes of the previous 145 years.”
“What Light the World did was to raise everyone’s sights relative to the incredible journey of Boston College,” said Geary. “It was another step in the evolution of Boston College from a regional to a national to a global university and thought leader. It has put BC on a very different plane and trajectory, perhaps more than anyone could have imagined.”
Looking back, the co-chairs agree that Light the World was an unforgettable experience that will have a lasting impact on Boston College.
“More than anything, Light the World has solidified our place globally as a top-tier Jesuit, Catholic institution with great clarity about who we are and what we want to do and be,” said McGillycuddy.
“What we did in this campaign is reach a new group of donors, including the generation of alumni who graduated in the 1980s and ’90s and BC parents whose resource commitment was a major part of our success,” said Clough. “For me, the sense of unity and the unwavering enthusiasm among alumni, parents, and friends, particularly during the uncertain times of 2008, is something I am very proud of and will never forget.”
The co-chairs offer praise for Fr. Leahy and Senior Vice President for Advancement James Husson, whose leadership and globe-trotting solicitations ensured the campaign’s success.
“Fr. Leahy and Jim Husson are the heroes of this campaign,” said McGillycuddy. “Both were tireless in their efforts and showed exceptional leadership and commitment. It would not have happened without them. And the unsung heroes are the dedicated Advancement staff and the countless alumni, parents and friends who supported this effort.”
Added Geary, “A successful campaign comes down to the team of people assembled. Fr. Leahy and the entire BC administration were adept at citing needs and making the strategic initiatives intensely personal to supporters within the BC community. Boston College helps form great human beings. That is the ultimate measure of its success, and this campaign will enable us to provide that same opportunity for current and future generations of BC students.”