Macalester launched a $150 million fundraising campaign, Step Forward, Saturday night, Oct. 11, announcing that alumni and friends of the college have already committed more than $100 million in gifts and pledges to the historic effort.

"I believe Macalester is among the top 15 liberal arts colleges in the country. The Step Forward campaign will help align Macalester's financial resources with its goals and potential."
Jerry Crawford '71
Chair, Campaign Steering Committee

The total raised includes more than $26 million for the Leonard Center, the college's new athletic and wellness complex that opened in August, and $7.5 million for the Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC) building, which is under construction and will open in May 2009. The gifts committed to these facilities surpass fundraising goals.

"It is gratifying that donors were so ready to invest in both facilities that will benefit the entire campus community," President Brian C. Rosenberg said. "Completing these projects energizes our work towards the renovation of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center, now our top fundraising priority."

President Rosenberg said the campaign is ahead of pace, and that greater numbers of alumni and friends are stepping up to accept responsibility and ownership for the well-being of Macalester. "I am especially pleased that over $23 million has already been committed toward financial aid endowment." The campaign continues through May 2011.

The announcement took place at a dinner in the Alumni Gymnasium of the new Leonard Center. The program featured the debut of a new film called The World Stage, live remarks by students and others, and a musical performance by Grammy-winning Sounds of Blackness.
· Visit the Step Forward website

Funding Priorities

• Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center expansion and renovation, planning underway.
• Student financial aid
• Endowed professorships and program support
• Study abroad, community-based internships, and other student experiences
• Teaching and learning activities supported through gifts to the Annual Fund
• Leonard Center athletic and wellness complex, opened August 2008
• Institute for Global Citizenship building, to be completed by May 2009

Regional Events
Step Forward launch events will be held in the following cities.

Chicago
Thursday, Oct. 23 - 6 p.m.
University Club of Chicago

New York
Tuesday, Nov. 11 - 6 p.m.
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

San Francisco
Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.
The City Club of San Francisco

Los Angeles
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 - 11 a.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall

Phoenix
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2009 - 5 p.m.
Wrigley Mansion

Washington, DC
Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 6 p.m.
The Newseum

Boston
Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 6 p.m.
Fenway Park

Seattle
Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 6 p.m.
The Space Needle

London
Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 7 p.m.

To attend any of these Step Forward events, email Karlyn Wegmann.

Weekend of activities launches campaign

More than 1,500 alumni, friends, faculty, students, and staff participated in Macalester's two-day Step Forward Celebration Friday and Saturday, October 10 & 11. The weekend began with an all-college party in the Leonard Center Friday evening. Saturday featured showcases of student work, dedication of the new Leonard Center, a picnic, and the dinner where the official campaign announcement was made.

Winners from video competition announced

Winning entries in the Step Forward video competition were featured at Macalester's all-college Step Forward Celebration Friday evening, Oct. 10.

A Macalester Madrigal by Matthew Ecklund '09	Step Backward by John Koenig '06
Petri Dish by Alison Kim '09	The Perfect Macalester Videoby Martin Mudry '09

A judging panel made up of alumni, faculty and staff selected the winning videos. Matthew Ecklund '09 won Best Student Video ($5,000); Alison Kim '09, Most Creative Student Video ($2,500); Martin Mudry '09, Most Humorous Student Video ($2,500); and John Koenig '06, Best Alumni Video ($2,500).
· Watch the winning videos