Alumni, friends make enormous impact with more than $500 million in private gifts

The University of Florida recently celebrated the successful conclusion of its Florida Tomorrow campaign.

The University of Florida recently celebrated the successful conclusion of its Florida Tomorrow campaign, which raised more than $1.7 billion in gifts, pledges and commitments, $201 million more than the $1.5 billion goal, making it one of the most successful campaigns completed by a public university.

(From left) Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, director of the UF Powell Gene Therapy Center, with Christy and Earl Powell at the UF Foundation’s Florida Tomorrow campaign celebration Oct. 5. Byrne was named the Earl and Christy Powell University Chair in Gene Therapy and Genetics Research last year. The Powells established the chair to help accelerate treatments for people with genetic diseases. Earl Powell served as co-chair of the Florida Tomorrow campaign steering committee.

(From left) Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, director of the UF Powell Gene Therapy Center, with Christy and Earl Powell at the UF Foundation’s Florida Tomorrow campaign celebration Oct. 5. Byrne was named the Earl and Christy Powell University Chair in Gene Therapy and Genetics Research last year. The Powells established the chair to help accelerate treatments for people with genetic diseases. Earl Powell served as co-chair of the Florida Tomorrow campaign steering committee.

“Gators around the world responded to the call to strengthen their university,” said UF President Bernie Machen on Oct. 5 during a full day of celebrations and special ceremonies.

The alumni, donors and friends of the six colleges of the UF Health Science Center and Shands made a tremendous impact on the campaign by investing in student scholarships, faculty, fellowships, facilities, research and initiatives, donating more than $518 million over the seven-year campaign period.

“The Florida Tomorrow campaign has impacted every corner of the university and extended to every corner of the earth,” said David S. Guzick, MD, PhD, senior vice president for health affairs and president of the UF&Shands Health System. “No more so than on the UF&Shands campus, where our donors’ support will help us use teaching, research and service to solve the greatest challenges in heath care and to inspire the next generation of health industry leaders.”