Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Among the greatest supporters of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are its alumni, whose generous gifts of financial support help the school maintain its traditions of excellence. A new fund at the university has been established to maximize those dollars raised to assist student-support activities.

The new Platteville 1866 Fund celebrates the university's history while preparing for the future. Half of all raised funds will be used in the year the gifts are presented, with the other half being placed in a permanent endowment fund to support future university needs. Platteville 1866 monies will support student research, tutoring and student assistance, cultural enrichment, museum and historical activities, student-driven entrepreneurial endeavors and extra-curricular activities.

With state finance support for higher education dwindling, alumni support is more important than ever at UW-Platteville.

"The reality of our situation is that we're asked to maintain a level of educational quality during a time when there is significant stress on the state budget," said Dennis Cooley, interim director of University Relations.

"As state support shrinks, we need to be able to provide gap funding to ensure that the current and future generation of Pioneers have the tools necessary to graduate and be successful. Too many people have put their blood, sweat and tears into UWP to get it to this level of excellence, so we have to do everything we can to maintain that high level."

The fund has been named in recognition of the university's history. The State Normal School-Platteville was founded in 1866, and later merged with the Wisconsin Mining School to become what is known today as UW-Platteville. Alumni are welcomed to give any size gift to help support the Platteville 1866 Fund. Recognition levels begin at $18.66.

The Platteville 1866 Fund is part of a two-pronged fund-raising drive commemorating the school's first 150 years while preparing for the next 150. University officials hope to raise $18.66 million over the initial five-year period in support of student-focused activities. Beginning in 2011, officials hope to raise an additional $20.16 million through the Platteville 2016 Fund, in anticipation of the university's sesquicentennial celebration in 2016.

Contact: Dennis Cooley, interim director, University Relations, 608-342-1182, cooleyde@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Dan Lehnherr, UWP Public Relations, 608-342-1194, lehnherd@uwplatt.edu