University Donors Give $120 Million For Research

Media release 4 November 2010

Embargoed until 10pm, Thursday 4 November 2010

University Donors Give $120 Million For Research And Learning

Philanthropic support totalling $120 million has been given for research and learning at The University of Auckland since 2006, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, announced tonight.

The University’s “Leading the Way” fundraising Campaign aims to raise $150 million by the end of 2012, an achievement that would make it as successful as any campaign in Australasian university history. Originally set at $100 million, the Campaign target was raised as philanthropic funds given through the University’s advancement, research, and scholarships offices were pooled.

Professor McCutcheon told donors at a dinner this evening about the impact that donor-supported research and teaching at the University makes on everyday lives. “Because of your support,” he said, “we can imagine a New Zealand that enjoys vastly improved health care, innovative businesses, the best environment in the world, and in which all our people are truly able to demonstrate their innate ability without regard to socioeconomic or other factors.”

Tonight’s dinner celebrated giving to the University since it began in 1884, when Supreme Court judge Thomas B Gillies endowed a science scholarship that has now been awarded for 126 years.

Over the years 11 families, organisations, and individuals have each given more than $5 million to support the University, including: the Goodfellow family, who established the Maclaurin Chapel and have supported healthcare education and many other activities; the Neal and Annette Plowman family, who established an endowment fund to support business growth and innovation; and the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, funders of ophthalmology and child health research.

Also included are several New Zealand organisations: the Auckland Medical Research Foundation; the Cancer Society Auckland; the ASB Community Trust; the Neurological Foundation and the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board; as well as high-profile philanthropist Owen Glenn, who has funded improvements in business education, marine science and cancer research, and who was in Auckland for the event.

Internationally, the Wellcome Trust has funded advances in human and animal health; and Friends of The University of Auckland (US), has supported scholarships, fellowships, and research projects.

They were tonight honoured as founding members of the Sir Maurice O’Rorke Society, named after the original instigator of a university for Auckland.

A further 35 donors, each of whom has made gifts totalling between $1 million and $5 million, were named members of the Sir George Fowlds Society, after a former Minister of Education and Chair of Auckland University College.

A third group, the 179 donors who have each given between $100,000 and $1 million, were honoured as members of the Sir Douglas Robb Society. Sir Douglas was the primary force behind establishing the School of Medicine in Auckland.

“It is benefactors such as those whom we honour tonight who transform the University’s potential into advances and discoveries that change lives,” said the University’s Chancellor, Roger France.

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