Deaton honors nursing school

The Sinclair School of Nursing met its $5 million For All We Call Mizzou goal.

By Anna Koeppel

Published Sept. 18, 2007

Supporters of MU's Sinclair School of Nursing gathered Monday to celebrate the school's success in meeting its For All We Call Mizzou fundraising goal.

"We're here today to celebrate a major milestone for our beloved school of nursing," Associate Vice Chancellor for Development Jim Salmo said.

Salmo gave opening remarks at the celebration, which was held in the Ann Crowe Essig Nursing Auditorium.

The nursing school reached its original goal of $3 million in February 2004, then set a new goal of $5 million, which the school reached 17 months ahead of schedule.

The School of Heath Professions has also reached its For All We Call Mizzou goal.

In addition, more than half of the nursing school's faculty, staff and retirees have donated to the It's My Mizzou portion of the campaign, Salmo said.

"This is a tremendous achievement," Chancellor Brady Deaton said.

Deaton also spoke at the presentation.

He said the fact that the school was able to raise so much money was impressive, especially considering not as many nursing school graduates have the financial means to support their alma mater.

"This is a good day, and it's a prelude to many more good days as we celebrate our success," Deaton said.

Deaton mentioned that the auditorium was renovated with money that came from donations by staff, faculty, alumni and friends.

The auditorium has new seats, each engraved on the back with the name of a person who gave money to the school.

"The momentum that comes from this success represents a grassroots effort we're very proud of," Deaton said.

Deaton presented nursing school dean Rose Porter with the 2007 Leadership Participation Award and members of the nursing school's fundraising staff with prints of Jesse Hall.

"When you look back 50 years from now, see this as an incredible historical leap forward for the University of Missouri and the Sinclair School of Nursing," Deaton said.

Porter said the campaign had two components: fundraising and "friend-raising."

"It takes all of us together to have success such as this," Porter said.

She gave yellow roses with notes that read "A Rose from Rose" to each member of the nursing staff.

Nursing school Development Director Tracy Feller spoke last.

"In the past seven years, I've come to appreciate the can-do spirit nurses have," Feller said.

Feller said the school will continue its aggressive fundraising campaign.

"We're stopping and celebrating for today, but tomorrow we're back to our goal again," Feller said.

Feller said the school turns away three out of every four qualified applicants, which results in a shortage of nurses. More funding is needed for faulty and facilities, she said.

Feller also said that it's important for the nursing school to be able to help alumni and students who have student loans.

"We've already gone over (our goal) by $800 million, and we're not going to stop," Feller said.

For All We Call Mizzou is MU's fundraising campaign run by the University Development department.

Its ultimate goal is to raise $1 billion.

//Corrections:

The Sept. 18 story "Deaton honors nursing school" incorrectly stated the amount by which the nursing school had gone over its For All We Call Mizzou goal. The entire university has raised about $800 million total.