Campaign Debuts to Fanfare

Flanked by the likes of basketball legend Alonzo Mourning (COL '92) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Mike Meaney (SFS '12) raised his glass to Georgetown's future on Friday, ringing in the largest fundraising drive in university history.

"We know that, all too soon, our generation's time on this Hilltop will come to a close, and it will be time for a new generation to arrive," Meaney, the Georgetown University Student Association president, said shortly after 7 p.m. on the steps of an illuminated Healy Hall. "But we look forward to the future and to the challenges ahead."

The kickoff toast for the $1.5 billion "For Generations to Come" campaign took place next to a high-class tent on Healy lawn — complete with a gourmet buffet, trendy music and wait staff clad in formal wear — which was open to the public.

But the launch wasn't just a showpiece; over the weekend, the university raked in over $20 million in donations, surging past the $800 million mark thanks in large part to four hefty gifts from donors.

A $5 million donation from Chair of the Georgetown University Board of Directors and former NFL Commisioner Paul Tagliabue (CAS '62) will be divided equally among need-based undergraduate scholarships, scholarships for student-athletes, the LGBTQ Resource Center and funding for strategic initiatives, according to the university website.

Campaign Chair William J. Doyle (CAS '72), who also serves on the board, gave $10 million over the weekend to permanently endow a project he created in 2009 named The Doyle Initiative, which aims to deepen the university's own commitment to tolerance and diversity and tackle the challenges and opportunities of a globalizing world.

The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs also took in $5 million from its original backer William Berkley, also a member of the board. Combined with an anonymous $5.5 million contribution earlier last week, the campaign enteredits public phase with a bang.

AN AFTERNOON OF IDEAS

A number of Georgetown notables, including Mourning and former secretary of state and university professor Madeleine Albright, moderated panels Friday as part of the weekend's events.

Think About It: An Afternoon of Ideas, focused on topics ranging from student-athletes to modern capitalism. The event's master of ceremonies, Interactive Communications Manager for the Advancement Office Anupam Chakravarty (SFS '10) described the discussion as a way to highlight the university's commitment to higher learning and the advancement of knowledge.

Mourning, who spoke first, described the importance of preparation and strong relationships to success.

"Adversity introduces a man to himself," he said. "This is something that I quickly learned through my life's journey as I tried to reach what I defined as personal success."

Following Mourning's speech, University President John J. DeGioia moderated a discussion on issues related to student-athletes. At the talk, John Thompson III, head coach of the men's basketball team, focused on the need for reform of recruitment regulations while Tagliabue discussed his objections to paying student-athletes.

The next panel focused on health care issues in the United States. Howard Federoff, executive vice president for health sciences, interviewed Lucile Adams-Campbell, associate director of minority health and disparities, on inequalities in the U.S. system.

Adams-Campbell emphasized the need for increased targeted prevention of disease and equality of health care.

The final two discussions concerned broader political issues. The first included Albright and Prince Turki Al Faisal, former Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States.