Today is the official launch of the public phase of Rice's next capital campaign, with the goal of raising $2 billion by the end of 2025.

Of the goal amount, $1.2 billion has already been raised in the non-public phase. Now it's our turn to do the rest!

This morning's announcement from the President's office to alumni volunteers sums it up (similar announcements were also made this morning to students, faculty, and staff):

Quote:Dear Rice Leaders, Alumni and Friends,

As we join for Owl Together this weekend, it is an opportune time to reflect on the spirit of community and to look forward collectively to future goals. In this spirit, I am pleased to share with you, our closest supporters, a preview of our capital campaign — Be Bold: The Campaign for Rice — before announcing to the broader world.

To frame this ambitious campaign, we’ve chosen the daring and memorable words of President John F. Kennedy during his famous moonshot speech, given at Rice stadium nearly 60 years ago. As he challenged the U.S. to reach for the moon in less than a decade, he asserted that “we must be bold” — a charge we still embrace today.

The aspirations we have set for ourselves — to advance knowledge, ignite creativity and make an impact on humanity — are grand in scope and require bold and unconventional problem-solving. We must be bold to ensure equity and access to an unparalleled Rice education. We must be bold to address the challenges of climate change, energy transition and both local and global healthcare. We must be bold to train the next generation of innovative, ethical leaders. We must be bold in assuring our students access to the very best in opportunities, from the labs to the athletic fields to internships across the world. In so many areas, Rice faculty and students stand at the forefront of their disciplines. The Be Bold campaign will build on their momentum and invest in their talent and promise, ensuring the university’s progress and standing among the best in higher education.

I hope you will join me in supporting this remarkable endeavor, one that is committed to enabling excellence, providing opportunity and addressing the pressing issues of our day. Thank you for all that you continue to do for our university.

Warmly,

David W. Leebron
Rice President

I wanna know which one of you guys gave $1.2B...

(10-29-2021 09:52 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  I wanna know which one of you guys gave $1.2B...

Yeah... it was me. No big deal. Just liquidated a couple CryptoPunks.

I guess with the flush stock market the consultants thought the timing was right, but I kind of feel this maybe should have been a nice launch for the next president?

Well, there's this:

Quote:With your help, we will:
- Modernize athletics facilities to transform the experiences for Rice student-athletes and fans, led by a renovation of historic Rice Stadium.

(Bolding added by me. Which, given the title of the effort, seemed appropriate).

LINK

just made donation specifically to Owl Club --- be bold!!

Quick question ... is this a change of policy that incorporates athletic department donations into overall university fundraising campaigns or has this always been the process? Thanks.

(10-29-2021 09:52 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  I wanna know which one of you guys gave $1.2B...

The $1.2B has been collected over the past 3+ years. I doubt Patterson was included, but the funding for Kraft Hall definitely was, and I believe the Opera Center was, as well. All major gifts toward buildings, program initiatives, etc. over the past 2 - 3 years counted toward the $1.2B.

(10-29-2021 11:07 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  Quick question ... is this a change of policy that incorporates athletic department donations into overall university fundraising campaigns or has this always been the process? Thanks.

It has always been the process.

Thank god we are finally calling attention to the fact that JFK gave his moon speech at our stadium!

Seems like maybe some better investments would have more than covered the $2 billion, based on what other peer institutions have been doing lately!

This year is my 20th reunion, so I already upped my donations with and made a 5-year pledge. Leave me and Mrs.Big alone for a while!

(10-29-2021 10:38 AM)erice Wrote:  Well, there's this:

Quote:With your help, we will:
- Modernize athletics facilities to transform the experiences for Rice student-athletes and fans, led by a renovation of historic Rice Stadium.

(Bolding added by me. Which, given the title of the effort, seemed appropriate).

LINK

There you have it. They're finally doing something about the stadium. It's hard to believe.

(10-29-2021 11:28 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  Thank god we are finally calling attention to the fact that JFK gave his moon speech at our stadium!

One of his moon speeches. The first and perhaps most important -- the one that committed the US "to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" -- was made in May 1961 at the Capitol. See, e.g., https://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html

Only made it through half the video. Way too banal for my taste.

(10-29-2021 01:34 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(10-29-2021 11:28 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  Thank god we are finally calling attention to the fact that JFK gave his moon speech at our stadium!

One of his moon speeches. The first and perhaps most important -- the one that committed the US "to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" -- was made in May 1961 at the Capitol. See, e.g., https://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html

I've always thought it was interesting that the Rice speech is the one I see most frequently (even when not presented by Rice). Does no video of the Capitol speech exist, maybe?

Or is it just because the background at the Rice speech is so much more beautiful??

(10-29-2021 02:02 PM)erice Wrote:  

(10-29-2021 01:34 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(10-29-2021 11:28 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  Thank god we are finally calling attention to the fact that JFK gave his moon speech at our stadium!

One of his moon speeches. The first and perhaps most important -- the one that committed the US "to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" -- was made in May 1961 at the Capitol. See, e.g., https://history.nasa.gov/moondec.html

I've always thought it was interesting that the Rice speech is the one I see most frequently (even when not presented by Rice). Does no video of the Capitol speech exist, maybe?

Or is it just because the background at the Rice speech is so much more beautiful??

I've wondered as well. I remember seeing video of the speech to Congress in documentaries in the 1980s (I distinctly recall JFK pronouncing "earth" with no R sound), but since then the Rice Stadium speech seems to be played and referenced at least 10x more often.

Congrats to Loki for receiving $2B in an email though

I'm surprised the Athletic Department's goal is only $100MM...

Quote:Rice Athletics
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Today we are launching our $100 million capital campaign. A transformational fundraising effort that will set the foundation for a new era of Rice Athletics!

Glenn Youngkin is a bball alum. Worth $400M. Has he given anything? Or since he's an ( R ), is he off limits?

(10-29-2021 04:00 PM)Hou_Lawyer Wrote:  Glenn Youngkin is a bball alum. Worth $400M. Has he given anything? Or since he's an ( R ), is he off limits?

He gave a building wing, the Youngkin Center.

They'll happily take Republican money.