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Far Above…The Campaign for Cornell

On Thursday, October 26th at a major press conference in New York City, CU President David Skorton announced the launching of a $4 billion capital campaign-- the largest in the University's history and second largest in the history of higher education. On hand for the public announcement were NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Peter Meinig, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cornell University, and Sanford Weill, Chairman of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College. News of the announcement of the ambitious undertaking, "Far Above…The Campaign for Cornell," appeared nationwide.

Pres. Skorton summed up its purpose stating, "Cornellians view the challenges we face in our communities -- here in New York City, throughout the state or around the world -- as opportunities to take bold and dramatic action. This is about responding to people's needs by pushing back the boundaries of education discovery and service, and fully realizing a role we have already begun to play: land grant institution to the world." Skorton added, "With today's announcement and over $1 billion in gifts and pledges already committed, we are well on our way to realizing this bright vision."

Peter C. Meinig, Chairman of Cornell’s Board of Trustees said, "This campaign represents one of the most ambitious initiatives in the history of academia." Meinig added, "With the continued encouragement of our friends, the guidance of our campaign co-chairs and the generosity of Cornell's remarkable alumni, we will continue to make Cornell an exemplary academic citizen in an interconnected world."

"Ultimately, this campaign will enhance all the elements that have always distinguished Cornell: the quality of our faculty and students, a unique combination of basic and applied research and teaching, a culture of collaboration and a beautiful and exciting campus," said University Provost Biddy Martin.

"One of the most important aspects of this campaign is the commitment to expand collaborative research across disciplines and across campuses to produce life-saving advances in science and medicine," said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. "I am confident we will unlock scientific and medical discoveries that can improve lives around the globe."

On Friday, October 27th, hundreds of visitors to Cornell, on campus as participants in the University’s Trustee Council Weekend, helped usher in the campaign during a grand evening celebration for which Barton Hall had been completely transformed. Characterizing Cornell as "unique among the world's research universities in its commitment to excellence" Skorton toasted "To egalitarian and world-changing education, discoveries and service. And to our campaign, which will carry us far above."

For NYS's land grant institution, success in Far Above...The Campaign for Cornell will translate to advancing education, discovery, public service and to making transformative contributions in areas of critical social importance. All aspects of the Cornell community will be impacted, providing:

  • Support for Students
  • Faculty and Program support
  • State of the Art Facilities
  • Unrestricted support.

At Weill Cornell in New York City, the campaign will fund programs such as:

  • Construction of a new $650 million, 350,000 square foot Biomedical Research Building on East 69th Street.
  • New translational and clinical research programs will be focused on metabolic, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, reproduction and fertility, solid organ transplantation, and immunological and inflammatory diseases. The goal is to translate the benefits of research advances immediately to patients.

President Skorton and all members of the Cornell community invite alumni, parents, and friends to join us in this great endeavor. Check out http://www.campaign.cornell.edu to hear and see more.

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