Williams Cited for Fund-Raising Excellence

Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Aug. 8, 2001 — The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has named Williams College a winner of its 2001 Circle of Excellence in Educational Fund-Raising Award. Some 1,200 colleges, universities, and secondary schools were eligible. Thirty-nine institutions received the award, including six private liberal arts colleges.

A panel of fund-raising experts selected winner based on numerous criteria designed to measure fund-raising program growth, breadth of support, and other indications of a mature, well-maintained program. They analyzed data for the three fiscal years that ended June 30, 2000. Over that time Williams raised $121 million dollars and more than 75% percent of alumni contributed.

“Williams is blessed with extraordinarily loyal alumni,” said Stephen R. Birrell, vice president for alumni relations and development. “This national recognition is a tribute first of all to them and also to the faculty who inspired them, the staff who supported them, and, lastly though importantly, those who work hard and well to keep our graduates actively engaged with the college. The beneficiaries are our current and future students and the society that they will ultimately serve.”

CASE is the world’s largest professional organization in education. The award was presented at CASE’s Annual International Assembly in San Francisco. Williams fund-raising volunteer John W. Buoymaster ’74 of San Francisco accepted the award on the college’s behalf.

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Published August 8, 2001