A DVA N C EM EN T N EWS
NATE KNOBEL
DEVELOPMENTS
The $100 million comprehensive campaign, This is the Time, is being co-chaired by Don ’81 and Leslie Straub Ritter ’84.
“I am not surprised anymore when I hear about the generosity of our alumni and donors. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are brimming with confidence because we know there are so many individuals who were positively impacted by Marietta College, and they want to make sure we continue to influence others for the next century. — President Bill Ruud
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s the pep band played Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and cheerleaders fired up the crowd of alumni and friends, there was an excitement building on The Christy Mall that had been missing. Of course, it was the first time in two years that Marietta College was hosting a Homecoming celebration; but at this moment on a late Friday afternoon, the buzz on campus was different. It was a blend of joyful optimism and appreciation of everything navy blue and white. When President Bill Ruud reached the podium, he provided everyone attending the All-Alumni Welcome a reason to be enthusiastic about the future as he proudly announced that at that moment, Marietta College was kicking off a $100 million comprehensive campaign. Titled “This is the Time,” the campaign is the largest in the College’s history, and it has far-reaching plans that include advancing the College’s distinctive academic programs and constructing a modern student center. “This is the time for us to embark on an exciting and historic $100 million comprehensive campaign to drive our college forward — reaffirming our commitment to our students, making good on our promise to transform lives for the better, and taking bold steps to make the world a better place,” says President Ruud, who was flanked by banners touting the campaign priorities. “We are doing this at a moment when higher education is being challenged to reinvent itself, and this has inspired us to embrace several priorities for the campaign.” The campaign seeks $100 million in gifts and commitments from alumni, parents, friends, and current employees and students, and it will be a historic investment that will help elevate Marietta’s ambitions to make a lasting, positive impact on the region and the world. The College is already more than two-thirds of the way toward its fundraising target, with gifts and pledges totaling nearly $70 million from more than 6,800 donors during the past four years. Marietta raised $52.5 million in its last campaign, which ended in 2009. “Announcing that we will raise $100 million in this campaign sends a clear message that our students, our faculty, our staff and our alumni belong in select company in American higher education,” President Ruud says. “It is about how big our aspirations can become and how this
