AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College has announced the public launch of the college’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, “Drive to 75,” which has already raised an incredible 75 percent of the goal.

The ambitious $22 million campaign was officially kicked off on Sept. 8 at Daemen’s 70^th Anniversary Gala held as part of the college’s inaugural Founders Celebration, a new annual tradition to commemorate the college’s rich history and origins. Daemen hopes to achieve the campaign goal by 2022 when the college marks its 75^th anniversary.

In announcing the campaign, Daemen President Gary A. Olson said, “For 70 years, Daemen has had a remarkable history of academic excellence and of providing a world-class college experience through learning opportunities that support the highest levels of success.”

“This historic campaign will propel our college forward and strengthen Daemen’s growing reputation as a college of national distinction,” added Olson. “As we aspire to do more for our students, private support is paramount to our commitment to being at the forefront in offering an exceptional education that changes the lives of nearly 3,000 Daemen students each and every year.”

At the gala, Olson also announced that he and his wife, Dr. Lynn Worsham, have made a $1 million bequest to “Drive to 75,” making it the second gift of this size to support the campaign. This major milestone follows the college’s first-ever $1 million gift from the Paul A. Saffrin Foundation, which has been honored with the naming of the Paul A. Saffrin Center for Sustainability and Civic Engagement.

“We are profoundly grateful to President Olson and Dr. Worsham for their immense generosity, and we are fortunate to have such a strong demonstration of leadership and dedication to the future of Daemen,” said Dr. Thomas Stewart, chair of the Daemen Board of Trustees. “With this gift, they are ensuring a lasting legacy of academic excellence at the college that will benefit generations of students to come.”

Daemen’s “Drive to 75” campaign focuses on support for three key areas: endowed student scholarships and endowed professorships to provide funding in perpetuity for the brightest campus minds; enhanced program funding to elevate the academic success of students on Daemen’s campus and in international and co-curricular pursuits; and enhanced facilities to provide the highest quality academic, student life, and athletic spaces.

The campaign is the largest comprehensive fundraising effort ever at Daemen, noted Craig Harris, vice president for institutional advancement.

“Building on Daemen’s history from its founding as Rosary Hill College, this campaign comes at a time when our college is poised to reach a new level of academic excellence, which is the hallmark of a Daemen education,” said Harris. “Support from the ‘Drive to 75’ campaign will have a transformational impact on Daemen and enrich the way our students learn.”

The campaign, which started its silent phase in 2014, is being co-chaired by Nancy Haberman Gacioch ’62 and Thomas M. Reynolds ’00.

“Together with the support of our generous donors, we have created the strong momentum to achieve or exceed our goal for this ambitious campaign,” said Olson. “The campaign’s success will make Daemen an even greater institution by enhancing the depth and breadth of our academic offerings, elevate our campus facilities, and strengthen our endowment.”

To learn more about Daemen’s “Drive to 75” campaign, visit daemen.edu/driveto75campaign.

Pictured (on right) are campaign co-chairs Nancy Haberman Gacioch and Thomas M. Reynolds.