CU Launches Athletics Campaign

University President Lee Bollinger kicked off a new, $100 million Columbia Campaign for Athletics as part of the University’s larger $4 billion capital campaign in an event on Friday.

The $5 million dollar donation of Robert Kraft, CC ’63, earned him the naming rights to the newly-dubbed Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The athletics initiative is designed to support “people, places, and programs” in Columbia sports.

“The effort made by Columbia student-athletes enriches their own educational experiences even as it brings us closer as a University community,” Bollinger said during a ceremony in Low Memorial Library. “This campaign aims to make participation in athletics as meaningful and successful as possible.”

“The Columbia Campaign for Athletics is about ensuring that we deliver winning teams and championship performances,” said Director of Athletics M. Dianne Murphy. “Our athletics program is dedicated to quality and excellence in all we do.”

The athletics initiative, which has already raised over $40 million, will provide funds for several different projects, including the endowment of coaching and administrative positions, an investment in creating new facilities and renovating existing structures, and additional funding for athletic operations. Seventy million dollars will go toward facilities, with the main priority being the construction of a new sports center at the Baker Field Athletics Complex. Another $20 million will go toward the endowment of positions, and the remaining $10 million will be invested into existing programs.

The Athletics initiative represents two and a half percent of the overall $4 billion Columbia Campaign. According to the University’s statement for Fiscal Year 2007, the Campaign—which was launched in 2004—has raised nearly $2.326 billion. That places it $726 million ahead of schedule. The Campaign is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2011.

The Campaign for Athletics marks one of several attempts by the office of University Development and Alumni Relations to subdivide the $4 billion effort. This allows administrators to market specific areas within Columbia to donors. Along these lines, last month, the University launched the $865 million Columbia Campaign for Undergraduate Education.

Chair of the University Board of Trustees Bill Campbell, CC ’62, and Kraft will co-chair the Leadership Committee for the Campaign. In addition to Kraft’s gift, Campbell, the chairman of Intuit Inc. and former head coach of the Columbia football team, has pledged $10 million.

This is not the first time that Kraft, a two-term University trustee, has been recognized for his contributions to Columbia. In 2004, he was given the Alexander Hamilton Award, which honors influential members of and contributors to the Columbia College community. Kraft also provided $500,000 in 2005 toward the creation of the Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness. In addition, he is one of the primary benefactors of the Robert K. Kraft Center for Jewish Life, which was founded in 2000.

“I hope that my contribution helps kick off a successful fundraising campaign to benefit the student-athletes at Columbia and help develop our future leaders for generations to come,” Kraft said.