Vermont Law SchoolPresident and Dean Jeff Shields Deanand MattRizzo, executive director ofVLS'sOffice of Institutional Advancement, on Tuesday announced the successful completion of thelargest capital campaignin the school's history.
The three-year campaign, which ended June 30,raised $18.4 million, surpassing the goal of $15 million by more than 20 percent. The money will contribute to a wide range of projects, many directly supportingVLS'stop-ranked environmental program and its top-tier clinical programs. Funding came from nearly 3,000 supporters, includingVermont's congressional delegation --U.S. Sen. PatrickLeahy,U.S. Sen. Bernie SandersandU.S. Rep.PeterWelch-- who wereinstrumental in making the campaign a success.
"I am heartened by the breadth of support we received during this campaign," said Shields. "This was a team effort on behalf of Vermont Law School by many people who recognize what we do for the state of Vermont, for our students and for the advancement of the rule of law at home and abroad. We received terrific help from alumni, parents,friends, the bar, students, foundations, faculty, institutional supportsand our congressional delegation.I especially want to single outJimmy Hanson, our Board capital campaign chair, andEd Mattes, the chair of our Board, for their first-rate leadership of a Board that unanimously participated in this campaign. MattRizzoled a top-notch team in Institutional Advancement, and I am also grateful for the hard work of our campaign co-director, DorothyHeinrichs. Our campus leadership on this campaign was crucial to its success."
The campaign was launched by a key gift fromTrustee Fran Yatesthat helped purchase the formerFreck'sdepartment store in SouthRoyalton. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was renamed theCenter for Legal Servicesand was renovated with the strict environmental standards for which VLS is known. The Center is one of the largest buildings on the 16-building campus and housestheSouthRoyaltonLegal Clinic(SRLC), theEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic(ENRLC), otherclinical programs and the school's book store.
Professor Margaret Barry, associate dean for Clinical and Experiential Programs, said:"Now we have an exceptional clinical education space for our excellent clinical programs." Clinical work in the building will include immigration law, family law and general poverty law through the SouthRoyaltonLegal Clinic, and environmental law through the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic.
Shields saidSen. Leahy helped to secure key federal funding for the SRLCand theU.S.-China Partnership for Environmental Law, which is strengthening environmental rule of law inChina through cooperative programs with several of China's top law schools. Sen. Sanders also secured key federal funding forVLS'sclinical programs, and Rep.Welchwas instrumental in obtaining funding for theInstitute for Energy and the Environmentto provide legal and policy analysis ofsmart grid technology, said Shields.
The campaign also secured several million dollars for general support and endowment. "To raise this amount of money in these very difficult financial times is quite amazing," said Board Chairman Edward C. Mattes, Jr. '83. "It required a very broad effort with all hands on deck. Clearly, there is tremendous recognition of the importance of the work of the law school."
The campaign was chaired by Trustee James E. Hanson '83, who led the process of setting environmental programs, campus infrastructure, clinical opportunities and student aid as the campaign's priorities. "For a school of this size and age to exceed its very ambitious fundraising goal in what was a terrible time to be raising money is quite remarkable," said Hanson, a New Jersey real estate finance and management executive. "I am most excited about the opportunities this effort provides our students -- more robust programs, more scholarship money, wonderful new buildings."
Shields will retire Aug. 1 and teach law next year at Cambridge University.VLS'sincoming president and dean,Professor MarcMihaly, said: "It is wonderful to start my deanship at a time when such a large part of the VLS community has tangibly expressed its support for what is going on here. We will put these resources to good use as VLS continues to lead the way in so many areas of legal education and research."
Campaign facts:
Funds raised: $18.4 million
Participation by Trustees: 100 percent
Number of alumni making gifts: 1,745
Parents making gifts: 923
Foundations making gifts: 52
Soruce: VLS,JULY 9, 2012
Vermont Law School raises record $18.4 million in capital campaign
Submitted by tim
on