The U-M Alumni Association will launch a five-year, $50 million campaign as part of the university’s Victors For Michigan campaign.
The Alumni Association, representing more than 535,000 alumni in 180 countries around the world, will kick off its campaign with the Michigan Alumni Experience from 3-5 p.m. Friday at the Alumni Center.
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“Our goal for the campaign is to create an even more extraordinary community that deepens and enriches the experience of every University of Michigan graduate,” said Alumni Association President Steve Grafton.
“The Alumni Association is uniquely positioned to expand the promise of higher education through our scholarship programs and create lifelong connections between current and future Michigan alumni.”
The Alumni Association’s campaign, which will contribute to the $4 billion goal for the university’s overall effort, will support four initiatives:
• LEAD Scholars Program, offering merit scholarships for admitted, underrepresented students to attract a new generation of Wolverines drawn from an array of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
After a drop in diversity of U-M’s 2007 incoming class, the Alumni Association board of directors established LEAD, an independent scholarship program for admitted, underrepresented students, to ensure that the U-M community reflects the cultural, racial, and gender diversity of the global workplace. Through the campaign, the Alumni Association intends to double the impact of this program from 140 students to 300 students each year.
• Club Scholarships, providing students from across the country with financial support to represent their community at U-M through club scholarships.
The Alumni Association supports more than 60 regional alumni clubs across the country, uniting Michigan graduates from coast to coast through networking, social and community service opportunities.
The Alumni Association aims to increase the number of students receiving club scholarships from 400 to 600 students annually.
• Camp Michigania, to provide a gateway for alumni and their family members to connect with the U-M community.
Over the last half-century, more than 8,500 alumni families have participated in Camp Michigania, a weeklong summer camp on Walloon Lake where alumni strengthen their relationships with each other and the university.
• The 2017 Fund, honoring the university’s upcoming bicentennial by promoting life membership in the Alumni Association and support for the association’s campaign priorities.
Membership in the Alumni Association enables a nationwide network of clubs, exclusive access to athletic experiences, and support for current U-M students.
