GU campaign raises $148 million, exceeding goal of $119 million

Gonzaga University celebrated the end of its $148 million capital campaign Thursday after raising money for buildings, renovations and scholarships, the university announced.

The campaign helped pay for the McCarthey Athletic Center, where the celebration was held Thursday. The school opened the fund-raising campaign in April 2002 with a goal of $119 million. The school will keep raising money to complete projects.

As a result of the campaign, donations to GU rose 144 percent over the amount raised in 1997-98 – from $5.7 million to $13.9 million in ‘04-‘05, GU said.

“The Capital Campaign has enabled Gonzaga to expand programs, increase enrollments, raise our academic and athletic reputations, and more than doubled the size of our budget, capital assets and contribution base,” said Gonzaga’s president, the Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, in a press release.