The very generous support of the donors we recognize here as members of the Chancellor's Council and the William Smith Clark Society, and as life members of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association, is one primary measure of the success of Campaign UMass. Launched in the campus community in October, 1996 with a nucleus fund of $28.2 million, Campaign UMass is about securing additional private support for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Commitments to Campaign UMass now stand at $86.9 million toward the $125 million goal, with $23.9 million in fundraising activity recorded during the 1999 fiscal year. Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, Royster Hedgepeth, notes, "We are exactly where we want to be at this point in the Campaign. We have significant momentum not just to reach the $125 million mark, but to accomplish all of our announced Campaign goals."

While increased support of the University can be measured perhaps most tangibly in increased private fundraising totals, Hedgepeth also points proudly to accomplishments related to other major focus points of Campaign UMass, advocacy and image. The more than 2,000 individuals who have volunteered their time and talents to the University of Massachusetts Ambassadors Network, the premier advocacy program for UMass Amherst, logged more than 800 individual actions on behalf of UMass in their communities and with their legislators. They were joined in volunteer efforts by other individuals who assist UMass in admissions and student recruitment, mentoring, and career networking. Increased alumni support of the University is also reflected in the membership rosters for the UMass Amherst Alumni Association, which stand at an all-time high. And, finally, during the past year UMass Amherst also proudly unveiled our new visual identity, along with a unified strategic communications and marketing plan for the University.

The Chancellor's Council recognizes donors who contribute $1,000 or more to UMass Amherst during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). This year, we are also recognizing donors who have made commitments totaling $1 million or more to the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as donors who have made gifts totaling $100,000 or more during their lifetime. Included in this year's roster are a significant number of University faculty, staff, and administrators who made commitments during the Faculty Staff Campaign, launched last fall. Listed, too, are individuals who made deferred gifts and other planned, bequest, and estate gift commitments, and who are recognized here as members of the William Smith Clark Society.

These ongoing and successful efforts to increase private resources for the University of Massachusetts Amherst have been assisted in large measure by the establishment of the Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive Program (PHEEIP) by Massachusetts state government. Under the terms of this program, now in its fourth year, the University of Massachusetts system is eligible for a significant portion of the matching funds allocated to the state higher education system. Those funds match gifts to endowment funds at fifty cents to the dollar. In fiscal year 1999, UMass Amherst secured an additional $1,114,961 million in PHEEIP funds to match gifts to endowment. This is just one example of the level of legislative support received during the course of Campaign UMass.

As we recognize members of the Chancellor's Council, William Smith Clark Society, and lifetime members of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association, we also recognize the generous support of foundation and corporate donors, as well as the commitments of support by the Massachusetts Legislature and the thousands upon thousands of individuals who, every day and in every way, personify the image of the University of Massachusetts Amherst through their advocacy efforts.

Through the Office of Science Technology Advancement, Corporate and Foundation Relations, the campus received significant support in addition to that committed by individual donors. This included a $150,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to support innovation in teaching general education classes; a commitment of $102,500 from Titleist and Foot-Joy Worldwide, Inc. to support research in Exercise Science; and $2.4 million in contract research and philanthropic support from Science Technology Advancement partners. UMass has also been chosen as a strategic partner by several top corporations, including General Electric, Raytheon Corporation, and IBM, and has entered into an alliance agreement with Kollmorgen Corporation's Electro-Optical Division which has resulted in over $100,000 in support of research and technology.

Together, all these contributions provide critical measures of support and do more than keep the excellence of UMass within reach. They significantly increase new teaching, learning, research, and outreach opportunities for UMass faculty and students. Thank you.