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This spring, the University announced the mostambitious capital campaign in its history, with a goalof raising $125 million over the five-year campaignperiod. Transforming Lives: The Campaign for IllinoisWesleyan University opened with gala celebrations in

both Bloomington and Chicago.“As you know, great institutions are never allowed the luxury of

standing still,” said University President Richard F.Wilson as he greetedguests attending the opening gala, held on campus May 13 in theMemorial Center’s Young Main Lounge.“This campaign is about help-ing our University transform lives. It’s as simple and powerful as that.“Many of you have already answered the call,”Wilson continued,“and

I predict the biggest — and happiest — surprise of this night will be therealization that we are not here to kick-start a campaigninto motion.You are catching us already mid-stride.”During the galas, it was announced that more than

$73 million had been pledged so far from alumniand friends across the country — including anendowment gift valued at $25 million, the largestever received by Wesleyan, made by HonoraryCampaign Chairs B. Charles “Chuck”Ames ’50 andJoyce “Jay” Eichhorn Ames ’49. (To read more aboutthe Ames’ gift, see page 22.)

According toWilson, nearly 80 percent of the campaign goal willgo to support student scholarships, need-based financial aid and fac-ulty and program endowments. In addition, several new buildingprojects will be funded. Details on the campaign’s goals are providedin the pages that follow.“Rarely in the history of our University,”Wilson said, “has the

support of alumni and friends been more important to ensuringaccess for talented students and recognizing the exceptional work ofour faculty.“Now we need you to help us finish what we have begun.Young

minds don’t wait and neither will we. Our time is now.”

A bold campaign provides the chance to begina new chapter in Illinois Wesleyan’s history.

‘OUR TIME IS NOW’(Above) The Chicagogala was held in thegrand ballroom of thePeninsula Hotel. Boththe Chicago and cam-pus events includedscreenings of videosabout the campaign,which can be viewed atwww.iwu.edu/campaign.

(Below) Board ofTrustees PresidentGeorge Vinyard ’71 andhis wife, Judy Shepelak,were among thosewhose major gifts wereannounced at the cam-paign’s opening. Theirgift will be used toincrease financial aid fordeserving students.

President Richard F.Wilson (above)shared the vision ofthe campaign withfaculty and staff priorto the Bloomingtonkick-off gala.

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“As we talk with friends of Illinois Wesleyan — both longtime supporters

and first-time contributors — we are struck by their stories. In one way

or another, the University transformed their lives. If they didn’t see it

then, they see it now, and feel it’s time to give back; time to pay it forward

for coming generations of Titans. Wesleyan began with one building —

Old North Hall. It has grown and prospered because people just like us

were willing to invest their treasure in young minds. Now, it’s our turn.”

— JEAN M. BAIRD ’80 (CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR WITH STEVEN J. WANNEMACHER ’73)

(Above) Campus lamp-posts were adorned withcampaign banners.

(Right ) Alumni andfriends gathered on theterrace with a view ofChicago’s skyline—including Sundeep V.Mullangi ’97 (below left), amember of the CampaignSteering Committee.

(Below middle) A sketch ofthe new Joslin Atrium.

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“I think having quality faculty attracts quality stu-dents. You’ve got to have that quality on both sides ofthe spectrum,” said Chuck Ames.

This is not the first time that the couple has made asignificant commitment to IllinoisWesleyan. In 1999,they issued a challenge to match up to $9 million for allgifts earmarked for a new library and another $3 mil-lion for matching gifts to the University’s annual fund.Their gifts — the largest inWesleyan’s history at thattime — led to construction of The Ames Library, a $26-million building opened on Jan. 9, 2002, and named intheir honor. In 1998, the Ames made a $2 million schol-arship commitment to the School of Art, and theUniversity named the school The Joyce Eichhorn AmesSchool of Art in Jay’s honor. Their contributions havealso been instrumental in forming the national IllinoisWesleyan University Alumni Association.

Chuck, who holds an M.B.A. from HarvardBusiness School, retired in 2007 as vice chairman ofClayton, Dubilier & Rice Co. in New York, one of theworld’s leading private equity investment firms. Hejoined the firm in 1987 after serving as chair andCEO of Reliance Electric Company, CEO of AcmeCleveland Corporation and CEO and chair of TheUniroyal Goodrich Tire Company. A past recipient ofthe University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, he con-tinues with private investment and is on the board ofdirectors of several smaller companies.

Jay is an art connoisseur and collector as well as asupporter of several organizations devoted to preserv-ing the visual arts.

Chuck and Jay have sponsored underprivilegedchildren for summer camps in the Cleveland area, andsupported the Hospice of Cleveland. They currentlylive in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Vero Beach, Fla.

In giving the largest gift in Illinois WesleyanUniversity’s history, B. Charles “Chuck”Ames ’50and Joyce “Jay” Eichhorn Ames ’49 were just doing

what comes naturally.“We were recently asked why we give to Illinois

Wesleyan,” the couple wrote in a letter inviting alumniand friends of the University to participate with themin the Transforming Lives campaign. “It’s simple — wewould not be who we are were it not forWesleyan. Sothis is our way of helping pass along to future stu-dents a bit of our good fortune.”

The Ames, longtime supporters of the University,are honorary chairs of the campaign. The announce-ment of the couple’s endowment gift, valued at $25million, was made by their son, and current IllinoisWesleyan trustee, Richard Ames at the kick-off cele-bration of the University’s $125-million campaign inMay. “They are making a lead gift in the TransformingLives campaign because, to put it simply, IllinoisWesleyan transformed their lives,” said Richard Ames.

“We are extremely fortunate to have alumni likeChuck and Jay Ames, who believe it’s important togive something back,” said University PresidentRichard F.Wilson. “The Ames gift, along with manyothers received thus far, is a testament to the impactthe University has had on the lives of our alumni andfriends and our community.”

The gift will allocate $10 million toward creating amatching fund for the faculty endowment. Thesefunds will create new endowed professorships, whichserve to honor and support outstanding faculty whocontribute to the excellence of the University throughteaching and scholarship.Wesleyan currently has 10endowed professorships. The Ames gift alone willdouble the number of endowed positions to 20. Thechallenge calls for alumni and friends to increase thatamount another 10 for a total of 30 total endowedprofessorships by the end of the five-year campaign.

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The historic gift toIllinois Wesleyanfrom Chuck and JayAmes (above right)is announced bytheir son, TrusteeRichard Ames(above).

Alumni Chuck and Jay Ames make history again with $25 million gift

Major gifts, including $1 million forJoslin Atrium addition, announced

Major gifts from several of IllinoisWesleyan’slongtime “movers and shakers”wereannounced at the Transforming Lives galas,

including a $1 million gift from Roger and Stevie Joslinof Bloomington that will fund a 2,500 square-foot glassatrium addition to the University’s Memorial Center.

The Joslin Atrium will provide meeting, receptionand banquet space, with views overlooking the mainquadrangle. It will be connected to the Young MainLounge, which is the Memorial Center’s recently reno-vated ballroom and principal banquet space. The atri-um’s primary entry will be from a grand staircaseleading up from the quad.

“We are extremely grateful to Roger and Stevie

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Joslin for their generosity,” said University PresidentRichard F.Wilson. “They have been great friends ofthe University for many years. This gift will provide adramatic visual addition and a much needed expan-sion to the Memorial Center.”The Joslins have been active in the greater

Bloomington–Normal community since 1963, serving inleadership roles in the Second Presbyterian Church,BroMenn Healthcare, Day Care Center of McLeanCounty,Western Avenue Community Center,MennoniteCollege of Nursing, Bloomington Public Schools and theRepublican Party. Roger Joslin is the retired vice chair-man and chief financial officer of State FarmMutualInsurance and chairman of State Farm Fire and Casualty.He is an emeritus trustee of Wesleyan and currentlyserves as a member of the steering committee for theTransforming Lives campaign.Stevie is known throughout the community for her

volunteer efforts, and has been the recipient of theYWCAWomen of Distinction’s Harriett F. RustVolunteer Service Award.Several other gifts were announced at the kick-off

galas, including a major scholarship commitment fromIWU Board of Trustees President George Vinyard ’71and his wife, Judy Shepelak, that will be used to increasefinancial aid for deserving students. The Shirk familywas also honored for their continued support of theUniversity through their gift establishing an endowmentto maintain and enhance the Shirk Athletic Center.It was also announced that John Horton ’82 and his

wife, Joann Horton, presented a lead gift to TheWesleyan Fund, which helps to provide student finan-cial aid and supports a variety of academic and co-curricular programs. A major endowed scholarshipfund was established by Herbert and Susan Getz, bothof whom are 1977Wesleyan graduates. In addition,Coyner Smith ’54 and his wife, Donna, have given anendowment gift that will fund the Smith ScholarsFund, which will provide annual scholarships.

(Above) Stevie and Roger Joslin acknowledge the applause astheir $1 million gift is announced at the Memorial Center gala.

Transforming Lives has a goal of $125 million, with nearly eight inevery 10 dollars going to build the University’s endowment.

Universities rely on their endowments as foundations of institutionalhealth. They support people and programs that set a college apart —funding such areas as scholarship, research, study-abroad and internshipprograms for students; attracting and retaining top faculty through pro-fessorships; and supporting initiatives that enhance teaching and learning.

I. CREATING OPPORTUNITIES – Endowment for students$30 million is being sought to increase the number and amount of

grants and scholarships awarded to promising and deserving young schol-ars, so that theWesleyan promise of meeting financial need is kept alive.

II. SUPPORTING INSPIRED TEACHING – Endowment for the faculty$20 million will be raised to support exceptional teaching and scholar-

ship that have been hallmarks of IllinoisWesleyan. The faculty endowmentwill increase the number of endowed chairs and professorships, and pro-vide support to attract young scholars and artists.

III. PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE – Endowment for excellence$22 million will provide funds targeted to key priorities to increase oppor-

tunities for student-faculty collaboration and enrich the academic experiencein areas critical to student success, such as writing, leadership and research.

IV. THE WESLEYAN FUND$26 million in annual giving will be used to provide student financial

aid, and support a broad range of academic and co-curricular programneeds. TheWesleyan Fund (Annual Fund) goal is to increase the numberof alumni giving from fewer than one in four to one in three.

V. CAMPUS FACILITIES$27 million is being sought to build:

� The Center for Instruction, a state-of-the-art building that replacesShaw Hall and will enhance teaching and learning across the curriculum.The new building will be located on the site of Sheean Library.

� An expanded Theatre Arts Complex to replace McPherson Theatre.The new complex will include a larger theatre and expand classroom andsupport facilities to better unify the theatre arts programs, which arecurrently located in many different parts of campus.

� New apartment-style student housing will be a priority, in order torespond to today’s student housing preferences and appeal to juniors andseniors who have increasingly chosen to move off campus.

C A M PA I G N H I G H L I G H T S F I V E M A J O R G O A L S

The new Center for Instruction(as envisioned in the 2002 campus master plan)

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