The Brave. Bold. fundraising campaign was announced to the public in the ICCU Arena as part of the homecoming week events. Idaho Gov. Brad Little was in attendance as a part of the ribbon-cutting and campaign launch.
The goal is to raise $500 million by 2025, money that will aid University of Idaho students with school costs and also departments on campus. Brave. Bold. has been under a silent phase since 2015 after the university’s Inspiring Futures campaign ended in 2014. The total raised since 2015 is $275 million, over halfway to the goal.
Mary Kay McFadden, vice president for university advancement, discussed details of the campaign in an interview.
The full title of the campaign is “Brave. Bold. A Promise to Idaho’s Students.” The campaign will have two phases. The first phase aims to support students through scholarships, experiential learning and career launch. The second phase is meant to focus on academic and research programs.
“We want to help students before coming to college and after they graduate,” McFadden said. “With scholarships to come to Idaho and help them with career services.”
Back in 1980, Idaho covered nearly 90% of an Idaho family’s cost of higher education. Today, the state covers only 50%. according to the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy. UI’s tuition used to be $1,441 and has risen to $8,304.
“We used to be state-funded universities, we are state-assisted universities now,” McFadden said. “Philanthropy provides that extra part of excellence. It provides the scholarships. It provides the support for faculty.”
Little emphasized this point during the main presentation of the fundraising campaign inside the ICCU Arena.
“My goal as governor has always been, and I said it from the get-go, that I want our children to make the choice to stay here in Idaho,” Little said. “We have to continue to invest in these institutions.”
UI President Scott Green, discussed this issue of helping students with financial support.
“The goal of the campaign is to guarantee financial support for our students to expand programs,” Green said. “Embrace this new experience and to enhance classroom learning and to prepare our graduates for meaningful careers.”
Friday’s tour of the arena was also the first time that both donors and alumni would see it’s interior.
“Our parents went here, grandparents went here, daughters went here, so we’re all Vandals,” UI alumni Jack Hawkins said. “We just want to be a part of helping put it together, so I think that was probably the major reason that we donated.”
Ben and Laurie Berriochoa are also former Vandals and donors who got to see the result of their donation to the arena.
“I don’t know if there’s adjectives enough to describe it adequately,” Ben Berriochoa said. “It’s everything I think you would like to see as an alum, you want to see something that is built to last.”
Little spoke about the ICCU Arena and remarked about the lumber industry’s involvement.
“Idahoans, we should be very proud of the presence of mass wood projects, what it means to, to Idaho, what it means to (the) north. I know what it means to the timber industry,” Little said. “It’s everything from carbon sequestration, to sustainability, and on top of the fact that it’s just absolutely gorgeous.”
ASUI president Kallyn Mai discussed how the student body helped fund the arena.
“The best part to highlight is the fact that students will contribute over $17 million over a period of 35 years, making them the largest donor of the facility,” Mai said. “So, it truly is a place for Vandals created by Vandals. And I think that’s really extraordinary.”
McFadden spoke to both alum and donors welcoming them.
“Our student-athletes are now set to be in a modern, well equipped, beautiful building that will start new traditions on the Palouse,” McFadden said. “It’s all made possible because of you. Thank you.”
Green also spoke to the donors and alum about the new arena.
“The planning and construction of the ICCU Arena is truly a university-wide endeavor. students, alumni, community, business partners and government collaborate to make this resounding success,” Green said. “This arena is already a dynamic living and learning environment and it showcases the potential Idaho industry and natural resources.”
Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @DVR_Tweets