Capital Campaign

A Successful Capital Campaign

Thanks for all your help in supporting the school of business

A successful capital campaign is in the books. The University of Alabama raised a total of $612,672,016 million, including $84,787,590 in gifts to the Culverhouse College of Commerce.

More than 100,000 people donated to the University’s campaign, and there were 130 gifts of $1 million or more. UA employees donated $11.6 million, and students gave $289,093, according to UA data.

Those are great numbers, but the most important number for the business school may be 6,714. That is the number of people who joined in the Culverhouse effort and showed their faith and confidence in our stewardship of their contributions.

The college development staff, led by Dean J. Barry Mason and Director of Development Charlie Adair and joined by Diane Harrison, development officer, and John Snider, assistant to the dean, worked long and hard on the campaign. They traveled throughout the nation to meet with potential donors to articulate the need to support a strong business school that is not only a major economic engine for the state but one that produces bright and capable business leaders for the future.

Contributions came from 45 states and Puerto Rico, demonstrating the reach of the Culverhouse College of Commerce. As might be expected, the bulk of the gifts came from the 3,890 Alabama donors who chose to contribute.

A core group of executives was instrumental to the success of the business school’s efforts. They were Will Brooke, of Birmingham, chairman of the Culverhouse College Board of Visitors and executive vice president and managing partner of Harbert Management Corporation; C. Kemmons Wilson Jr., of Memphis, principal and executive vice president of Kemmons Wilson Inc.; Charles E. “Eddie” Adair, of Montgomery, a partner in Cordova Ventures; Harris Morrissette, of Mobile, president of China Doll Rice and Beans; and Carl Jones, of Birmingham, retired CEO of Regions Financial.

“One of the great truths in fundraising is that people give to people. Those five gentlemen opened a lot of doors and kept us pointed in the right direction,” Charlie Adair said. “And they led by example. All were very generous, and we are deeply appreciative.”