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Celebration 2013 Luncheon Garners $200,000
Swinney Recreation Center was transformed into a glittering ballroom as nearly 600 people gathered to honor the 2013 Alumni Awards recipients. The university's largest event garnered $200,000 for student scholarships.

Rekindling Connections, Chinese Alumnus Returns to Campus
Like many other alumni, John Huang graduated from UMKC and hit the world running. On a recent stop to the US, he slowed down a bit to check in on his alma mater and share memories and stories about his famous father.

Big Night at the Grammies for UMKC
Alumni and artists with strong UMKC connections had a terrific night at the 2013 Grammy awards presentation.

Alumni Open Doors for International Students
Home for some UMKC students is as far as 20 hours away by plane, so alumni have jumped in to provide a home-away-from-home over the holidays.

Downtown Arts Campus Study Released
A comprehensive study of three potential downtown sites for a UMKC campus for the arts says the concept would improve educational opportunities for students in all fields, boost economic development, enhance Kansas City’s ongoing arts renaissance and inject millions of dollars into the local economy over the next 25 years.

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Women of Color Leadership Conference

Foreign Language & Literatures Alumni Wine Tasting

2013 Pharmacy Foundation Golf Tournament

SCE Alumni Golf Tournament 2013

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UMKC Launches $250 Million Campaign

Alumnus announces $6 million gift, the fourth-largest in UMKC history

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and the UMKC Foundation announced the public launch of The Campaign for UMKC. The seven-year, $250 million campaign is designed to elevate UMKC as Kansas City’s model research university, empowering students through additional scholarship opportunities, attracting and retaining outstanding faculty, developing and expanding the university’s world-class programs and funding facilities that enhance learning. See photos from the launch event and read more here.

The launch is augmented by a $6 million gift—the fourth-largest in the university’s history—from campaign co-chairs Tom and Vina Hyde (pictured at right). Hyde is a graduate of the UMKC School of Law. Their gift creates the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, which establishes an unrestricted fund to support the chancellor’s vision for the university.

“I am overwhelmed by the receipt of this gift specifically designated for the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence,” said Chancellor Leo E. Morton. “We are grateful for the generosity and vision of people like Tom and Vina who are helping UMKC achieve its fullest potential."

“Vina and I are happy to provide funds for the chancellor to use for projects that are compelling to him,” said Tom Hyde (J.D. '75). “We are excited to serve on this important campaign for a university that we have cared about for so many years."

The campaign, tagged with the proclamation This is the time. This is the place., began its silent phase two years ago. Philanthropic support has brought the total fundraising to date to $100,030,984.The UMKC Foundation announced several additional new gifts as part of the public launch:

Bill and Irma Lou Hirsch provided $100,000 to establish a scholarship that will support four students per year in the UMKC School of Nursing’s online RN-BSN program.
Dr. Marjorie Sirridge, former dean of the UMKC School of Medicine, made a gift of $125,000 to advance and sustain the contributions that the Sirridge Office of Medical Humanities and Bioethics makes to the education of UMKC physicians.
Dr. Linda Hood Talbott (Ph.D. '73) pledged $250,000 in current and planned gifts to establish the Linda H. and Thomas H. Talbott Scholarship and Leadership Award, benefiting the College of Arts and Sciences; the Henry W. Bloch School of Management’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; the School of Education’s Institute for Urban Education; and the performing arts programs at the Conservatory of Music and Dance, the UMKC Theatre Department and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Retired H&R Block chairman Henry W. Bloch will serve as honorary chair of the campaign steering committee, with Tom and Vina Hyde and Bob and Ann Regnier serving as co-chairs. “Ann and I, along with Tom and Vina, are honored to serve as co-chairs of The Campaign for UMKC, and to be a part of the transformation that’s taking place at this university,” said alumnus Bob Regnier (M.B.A. '78), president and CEO, Bank of Blue Valley.

The UMKC Foundation leadership expressed its thanks to the university’s many advocates—civic and business leaders, volunteers and alumni—who have provided support for the campaign and continue to support UMKC.

Find a full list of steering committee members and campaign goals at the UMKC Foundation website.

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