The Board of Trustees began planning for the campaign in late 2014, and, in May 2015, formally approved it to be chaired by Wendy Dietze P’15, David Gorter ’80, Jim Hunter ’71, and Bill Lowry ’84.Objectives of the campaign are guided by the College’s strategic plan and include funding that will support:

• Second-to-none career services for all students
• Innovative science facilities to prepare students for careers in healthcare, medicine, and research
• Enhanced classroom spaces across campus
• Expansion of scholarships to attract outstanding students
• Exceptional faculty support across all academic disciplines
• Continued active engagement of alumni, parents, and friends

“This is the most exciting campaign in the College’s history and the most important for Lake Forest students, our faculty, and our future,” President Schutt said. “We will need the participation of all of our alumni, parents, and friends in order for it to be a success.”

Campaign leadership, supported by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and Vice President Philip Hood, has been working diligently to secure early commitments of support.

“The central capital project of this campaign is the renovation and expansion of our science facilities,” Hood said. “A major focus has been to secure the funding needed to break ground as soon as possible.”

Early commitments have not been focused exclusively on the science facilities, however. Leading gifts also have been secured to support the Career Advancement Center, academic programs, and student scholarships.

Increasing the number of donors to the College over the course of the campaign is a high priority and one that Alumni Board President Vicki Hagan ’88 believes alumni should get behind.

“Increasing the percentage of alumni who make a gift to the College each year from 24 percent to 30 percent over the course of this campaign is of utmost importance,” she said. “Every alum who participates contributes to raising our national ranking and positively affects our ability to attract future Foresters. Every gift is meaningful.”