FALL 2016

Westmont Magazine Campaign Raises $155 Million, Doubling Goal

Strength for Today raises funds to support some of Westmont’s priorities: leadership, affordability and innovation 

Thanks to generous alumni, parents and friends, Westmont successfully completed its Strength for Today campaign, raising $155.1 million, more than double the $75 million goal. The comprehensive drive funds initiatives and facilities advancing leadership, affordability and innovation through gifts, pledges and deferred commitments.

President Gayle D. Beebe led the drive, the largest in the college’s history. Now in his 10th year at Westmont, Beebe has achieved significant success in fundraising, strategic planning, building a strong board and effective executive team, creating new off-campus study opportunities and establishing innovative programs expanding the college’s reach and influence.

“We’re so blessed by the overwhelming support and enthusiasm for our efforts to strengthen leadership programs, become more affordable and approach the future with innovative ideas and programs,” Beebe says. “Strength for Today has created tremendous momentum for us, and we’ll build on it as we continue to advance our mission of rigorous academics and deep love of God.”

Beebe hopes to establish an institute for each of Westmont’s five core commitments: liberal arts, Christian, global, residential and undergraduate. The college founded the Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts in 2000, and Beebe helped create the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture and the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation in 2011.

The Global Leadership Center reflects the college’s commitment to educating students with a global perspective and includes facilities as well as five programmatic initiatives.  To make Westmont more affordable and accessible to all students who wish to attend, the campaign raised significant resources for both endowed and annual scholarships. The new Augustinian
Scholarship provides at least $35,000 each year in tuition assistance to 30 entering first-year students. During four years at Westmont, they receive a minimum of $140,000 in financial aid. The first class enrolled in fall 2016.

Strength for Today supports innovation with an increased emphasis on internships and preparation for careers that make a difference. Under Director Paul Bradford ’84, the renamed, restructured Career Development and Calling office has stepped up efforts to place all students in internships. Westmont Downtown, a new semester-long program, brings students into the Santa Barbara community for 20-hour-perweek internships and engagement with local businesses and organizations.

A $750,000 grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation funded a significant renovation of Westmont’s biology and chemistry teaching labs in Whittier Hall to support STEM education. The college has built a strong science program with significant opportunities for student
research and a high acceptance rate to top medical and graduate schools.

An Innovation Fund supports creative initiatives by professors and staff members that strengthen the academic program, increase efficiency in operation and establish new ventures. Strength for Today follows Bright Hope for Tomorrow, an earlier effort that raised $82 million for major academic facilities and athletic fields.

STRENGTH FOR TODAY TOTALS

  • New Facilities $34.1 million
  • Programs/Five Centers $8.7 million
  • Endowment $62.0 million
  • Westmont Fund/ $19.6 million
  • Scholarships
  • Gifts-in-Kind/Artwork $30.6 million
  • Total $155.0 million