WT announces new $175M goal for its One West campaign

Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News
·4 min read

CANYON — West Texas A&M University at a news conference Thursday morning announced that it had upped its One West campaign goal to a $175 million fundraising goal.

Campaign and university leaders spoke about the new goal that had been plotted, due to reaching the original 2025 goal of $125 million in less than two years. Currently, the campaign has raised more than $150 million in donations, including $39 million since the beginning of the new fiscal year. More than 62,000 gifts from close to 8,000 donors have been contributed to the campaign since its inception on Sept. 23, 2021.

According to WT, the campaign has created about $19 million in new scholarship funding, $18 million to endow 70 new professorships, $42 million to support academic programs, and more than $19 million to fund construction for future university upgrades.

Jim Brewer, the One West campaign co-chair, said in a news release: “Because of the generosity of donors across the Panhandle region; because of the bold vision cast for the University in the long-range plan; because of the thoughtful and innovative leadership of President Walter V. Wendler, the administration, faculty, staff, and students of this great University, we believe we can do more,” he said. “We feel we should do more!”

Leah McClain and Jim Brewer, co-chairs of the WT One West campaign, announce a new fundraising goal Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
Leah McClain and Jim Brewer, co-chairs of the WT One West campaign, announce a new fundraising goal Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.

Leah McClain, co-chair of the campaign, said that the original goal, when set, seemed daunting.

“$125 million is a lot of money no matter how you look at it, and despite very generous contributions by individuals,” McClain said. “I am still in awe of the fact of how quickly we reached $125 million. Now that we are over $150 million, the $175 million (goal) now definitely seems very plausible, and I have no doubt that we will reach that goal.”

As the face of the university, President Wendler said that WT’s commitment to serving the region in a way that few universities have been willing to do has been a boon to its fundraising ability.

WT President Walter Wendler speaks to the audience Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
WT President Walter Wendler speaks to the audience Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.

“Meeting the original public goal and announcing a new goal provides tremendous momentum for WT and is a source of great pride for the Panhandle’s university,” Wendler said. “I am very surprised, nearly shocked that we have raised as much money as we have, as quickly as we have. Even more important to me is the work that those resources are doing on the campus to help students and faculty.”

Wendler said that some of the most significant impacts of the campaign have been the increase in scholarships and professorships. He said the key to the campaign's success has been donor commitment to the university.

“The bottom line is that donors have responded to our mission, and we are thankful for that,” Wendler said. “These donors have committed to the right things, such as faculty and students.”

Todd Rasberry, WT Vice President for Philanthropy and External Relations, speaks to the audience Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
Todd Rasberry, WT Vice President for Philanthropy and External Relations, speaks to the audience Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.

Todd Rasberry, the vice president of philanthropy and external relations for WT, spoke about the campaign's success.

“The Panhandle region is full of generous people,” Rasberry said. “What is exciting is to see people investing in the educational mission of the university, of which we work very hard to be the Panhandle’s university. To see folks understand the impact that the university is making, not just for our region but in particular to our region (and beyond), is something to celebrate.”

Rasberry emphasized the importance of the university to the region in educating and training its future leaders.

“We are paying particular attention to regional and rural issues because they are great opportunities to be a part of the solution in these communities,” Rasberry added.

Attendees look on Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.
Attendees look on Thursday morning at the WT One West Campaign Announcement at the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon.

He said that the original campaign goal was based strategically on many factors, including the potential and history of fundraising at WT and what other non-profits have been able to do in the region.

“You always want to reach your goal and exceed it, but what became apparent early on is the generosity of donors and their willingness to believe in the vision that had been cast for this institution,” Rasberry said. "When we saw last year that we believed we would reach that goal early, we began strategically thinking about what do we do next. So, we looked at where we thought we could get in two years, and this is how we set this new goal.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: One West Campaign sets new $175 million fundraising goal for WT