Hollins University announced its drive to match a $5 million challenge gift has been an overwhelming success, resulting in more than $15 million in new gifts for the university in just seven months.

To commemorate what President Nancy Gray called "history-making good news" for Hollins, the university held a campus-wide celebration on July 12, highlighted by the unfurling of a large banner on the campus’ Front Quadrangle heralding the total amount of $15,688,277 in gifts and pledges.

An anonymous donor presented Hollins with the $5 million challenge gift last November with one condition: the university had to match it, dollar-for-dollar, by June 30 of this year with new gifts and pledges designated for Hollins' endowment or allocated for deferred maintenance projects on campus.           

Donors responded to the challenge by more than doubling the amount required to meet the match. Gifts to the challenge will address a wide range of needs, including:

• New endowed scholarships
  
• Support for academic programs, including environmental studies, leadership development, mathematics, music, study abroad, and women’s studies
  
• Renovation and restoration of historic campus buildings and grounds
  
• Improvements for academic buildings, including new chemistry equipment and a psychology laboratory for the university’s Dana Science Building, along with renovations to Dana that would make it more energy-efficient with minimal impact on the environment, such as the installation of a “green roof” that absorbs rainwater and sunlight while providing additional teaching and laboratory space
  
• Campus beautification
  
• An endowed chair in history
  
• A graduate fellowship in creative writing
  
• Increased funds to bring distinguished speakers to campus
  
• Unrestricted gifts to build the university endowment

Gray paid tribute to the anonymous donor and all those who responded to the challenge, noting that "a remarkable number of Hollins' loyal alumnae and friends stepped forward to make this happen. In turn, they delivered an inarguable testament to the continued viability of women’s colleges. Through their generosity, our financial foundation will be stronger and learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students will be greatly enhanced."

Gray added that the challenge and response endorse the direction Hollins is taking now and in the coming years. "In addition to campus preservation and enhancements, the gifts we received were largely designated for programs that support the hallmarks of our five-year strategic plan, which include leadership development, global and intercultural understanding, environmental sustainability, and creativity.  There is a firm belief in our mission, which is to prepare women to make a difference in the 21^st century."