Dear Friends,
I hope you receive this newsletter in good health. As we continue to serve our mission in a period unlike any other for UM, our country and our global community, connecting with you through this publication brings feelings of gratitude, friendship and encouragement.
Thank you for pausing with me to reflect on the passion of our giving community and to celebrate that together, we are part of something big. Something much bigger than ourselves.
Your vision and generosity during the seven years of the historic Campaign Montana have transformed the University of Montana. UM is positioned to serve its mission and deliver on its promise because of you, our most loyal supporters. Thank you for your dedication to preparing students to lead, to uplifting our communities and to making our world a better place.
As we united around our commitment to student success during Campaign Montana, many members of the UM family served in critical volunteer roles and encouraged us all to reach for greatness every step of the way. Warren and Betsy Wilcox and Mark and Cheryl Burnham served as co-chairs of the quiet phase and public phase of the campaign, respectively. I thank them for their steadfast leadership and their humbling devotion to UM and the UM Foundation.
Many alumni and donors worked alongside school and college deans and other UM leaders to achieve program-specific objectives throughout the campaign. I thank them for their commitment to Campaign Montana and their embodiment of the Griz spirit we all admire.
Throughout this issue of Raising Montana, you will find stories that highlight the broad yet life-changing impact of our collective Campaign Montana efforts. I hope you are as inspired by these stories as I am. As we forge ahead together to continue helping UM realize the full potential of its mission, Campaign Montana is demonstration of the incredible change we can create when this community comes together.
Sincerely,
Cindy Williams
President and CEO
University of Montana Foundation