The Eastern Michigan University Foundation has announced record fundraising of $7.9 million in fiscal year 2007-08. The EMU Foundation fundraises exclusively on behalf of Eastern Michigan University. Preliminary figures, as of June 30, 2008, include cash gifts of over $7.1 million, best-ever for the University, and gifts-in-kind of nearly $800,000, exceeding total fundraising in 2006-07 of $4.2 million by 88 percent. Several historic gifts are included in the $7.9 million: • $2.2 million from the trust of renowned sculptor and potter Jean Noble Parsons, the largest from an estate in the history of EMU. The University will use this gift to establish the Jean Noble Parsons Center for the Study of Art and Science on 86 wooded acres near Traverse City and Interlochen. • More than $500,000 from the estate of Helen Rudin, emeritus staff of EMU, whose gift will support scholarships in music and general studies; and $200,000 from the estate of Catherine Sesi, longtime friend of Ypsilanti and EMU. • Record fundraising benefitting Intercollegiate Athletics at EMU, including $254,000 raised by the E-Gridiron Group (EGG) in FY07-08. Over the past three years, the EGG has contributed more than $685,000 to the program, the largest amount of gifts received to date for a non-facility related project by a single group in EMU Athletics history. Funds help provide the football program with numerous upgrades and level the playing field with the rest of the Mid-American Conference. • A gift to the Kresge Science Initiative Challenge of $250,000 from the American Electric Power Foundation, which will help build a $1 million science equipment endowment. • Gifts of $225,000 from alumnus and former track athlete Dan McClory, part of an historic, $1 million pledge, to help build a Championship Fund for EMU’s men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country programs. • $200,000 additional support from area philanthropist Phil Jenkins to the Jenkins-Tracy Scholar Program, which benefits “return to learn” students in EMU’s Educational Leadership and Counseling Program. • Gifts of nearly $185,000 from alumnus Delores Brehm and her husband, William, which supported a scholarship in the Master’s in Public Administration Program, and scholarships and research in EMU’s Special Education Department.

Eastern Michigan University athletics recently received the largest gift in its history, a $1 million pledge from Dan McClory, an alumnus and former track and cross country standout. The pledge will provide $200,000 a year for the next five years and will benefit the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams at EMU. McClory (’81, ’82) was a three-time captain and four-year letter winner for EMU’s cross country team, as well as a letter winner in men’s indoor and outdoor track. He is the managing director for Hunter Wise Financial Group, LLC in California.

Eastern Michigan University has received $2.2 million from the trust of renowned sculptor and potter Jean Noble Parsons (1929-2000). The estate gift is the largest of its kind in the history of EMU. The trust includes $1.75 million in cash and $489,000 in property. The Parsons’ trustees solicited proposals following her death to establish a center in her name and Eastern Michigan University was awarded the gift. EMU will use the gift to establish the Jean Noble Parsons Center for the Study of Art and Science on 86 wooded acres near Traverse City and Interlochen. Programming for the center will maintain the natural state of the land and will be designed to foster interdisciplinary exchanges between artists and scientists.

A recent gift of $200,000 from PHIL JENKINS, local philanthropist, will fund scholarships for returning students in EMU’s Leadership and Counseling program. Jenkins’ generosity supports the Jenkins-Tracy Expendable Scholarship fund, which provides tuition support to a cohort of students during a three-to-four year period while they complete their master’s degrees. This year’s primary focus of the Jenkins-Tracy Scholar Program is on students who have “stopped out” of the educational leadership or counseling program. Scholarship recipients are selected from the EMU on and off-campus centers and the Weekend University, thus enhancing opportunities for students all over southeastern Michigan. Jenkins, an Ann Arbor resident, founded Sweepster, Inc., which manufactures attachment, walk-behind, self-propelled and airport runway sweepers for all types of equipment used around the world.