Kirkwood raises $18.7 million in record-setting campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A record-setting fundraising campaign for Kirkwood Community College brought more than $18.7 million to the school, much of which will be used for student support and scholarships, officials announced Thursday.

The $18.7 million total raised in the Real World Success campaign topped the $12.5 million goal by nearly 50 percent, Kirkwood officials announced at a celebration event.

Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich called it a "landmark day in the history of Kirkwood."

"This effort has been a magnificent success," he said. "This is important because of who is helps."

Money raised in the campaign will fund more than 400 additional scholarships per year, Kirkwood officials said. The college's scholarship program has tripled in the past 10 years, going from $800,000 awarded in 2003 to $2.4 million distributed in 2013. And students who receive Kirkwood scholarships are more than twice as likely to graduate in three years as students who did not receive scholarships, officials said.

"We're looking forward to passing that $3 million mark in the next few years," said Kathy Hall, vice president of development. "The words thank you just aren't enough to convey our gratitude. Every last gift is important because they all point us toward higher educational achievement for this region and a stronger regional economy as a result."

More than 2,100 donors -- nearly 1,000 of them new Kirkwood alumni donors -- contributed to the campaign, an increase of 40 percent compared to Kirkwood's previous fundraising effort.

The campaign total includes a $1 million gift from Henry and Patricia Tippie, longtime supporters of Kirkwood and of higher education in Iowa. The gift will be used to establish an endowed scholarship fund for Kirkwood students in the business and information technologies department, one of the college's largest enrollment areas. An event room at the Kirkwood Center also was named for Henry Tippie to recognize the gift.

Tippie told the crowd that without the G.I. Bill, his chances for a college education would have been slim. He sees supporting higher education and scholarships as a way to give back.

"To me, it's a form of repayment for benefits received," the Belle Plaine native and University of Iowa graduate said.