The University of Aberdeen’s Sixth Century Fundraising Campaign is to have its USA launch in New York on Thursday 9 November 2000.
Hosted by Mr Christopher Forbes in the Forbes Magazine Galleries at 60 Fifth Avenue, invited guests will gather at a reception and dinner at which Principal of the University, C. Duncan Rice, will outline the Campaign objectives. Campaign Patron is HRH The Prince of Wales.
Launched in Aberdeen on 22 March 2000, the University of Aberdeen campaign is the most ambitions and far-reaching of its kind ever undertaken by a Scottish university and aims to raise £150Million by the year 2009. Firmly on target, the Campaign has already secured well in excess of £20Million.
Principal Rice said: “The Sixth Century Campaign aims to attract investment to the University from private donors, companies, trusts and foundations throughout the world.
“The money raised will support a wide range of innovative and exciting developments in fields including medical research and the development of the second phase of our very successful Institute of Medical Sciences, oil and gas , food and nutrition, the arts, culture and the humanities, and regional and environmental issues.”
Principal Rice continued: “I am delighted that Christopher Forbes has generously offered to host our New York launch, the first in a series of events which we intend to hold in the USA. The University has alumni and supporters throughout the country and many have either helped or expressed a willingness to contribute to our Campaign.
“The huge importance of private philanthropic support of higher education in the USA is a model which is slowly being adopted in the UK. Recent history provides an excellent example in the renowned business acumen and generosity of philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie who, like many Scots before him, left his home country to make his fortune in the USA.
“I am looking forward very much to meeting as many people as possible in person and to having the opportunity of describing our plans to ensure that the University of Aberdeen become a major research-led University of international distinction.”
This will be a return to very familiar ground for Principal Rice who was previously Dean of the Faculty (1985-1991) and the vice-chancellor (1991-1996) at New York University, playing a key role in one of the must successful US higher education fund-raising campaigns which raised over £1billion in 10 years. Prior to his time in New York, he was Dean of the College at Hamilton from 1979 to 1985, and Assistant and then Associate Professor of History at Yale University between 1970 and 1979.
The Forbes family has had a close connection with the North East of Scotland and with the University of Aberdeen for many years. Christopher Forbes is the son of Malcolm Forbes, the late media magnate, who died in 1990. Malcolm Forbes’ sister, Moira Mumma, is a graduate of the University and his grandfather, Bertie, is buried in the little church of St Kanes in New Deer, Aberdeenshire. The Forbes family have been frequent visitors to Aberdeen
Similar events will be held in Houston and San Antonio, Texas in Spring 2001.
Further information from:
Christine Cook, Executive Director of Public Relations, Tel: 01224 272014