Our most ambitious fundraising endeavor secures a legacy for generations to come.
Inspired to expand our scope and offer more opportunities to serve our outstanding students, faculty, and community, Lees-McRae made the decision to acquire the nearly five hundred acres that Grandfather Home for Children occupied for over a century. Following the March 2022 purchase of this property, newly named “South Campus,” we launched The Legacy Campaign—a $20 million fundraising effort that lets us seize the opportunity to:
- Double the college’s footprint, adding more than 100,000 square feet of usable space and much needed student housing to keep pace with our enrollment
- Create engaging student Living and Learning Communities that enhance our thriving experiential programs
- Preserve and maintain valuable natural resources so they can be enjoyed by generations to come
Rise to the Challenge and help us reach our goal by pledging to be an Advocate. Included in the toolkit is everything you need to spread the word and show your support.
We reached our Giving Day goal—but the Bissell-Kopczynski Challenge doesn’t end until March 31!
765 days ago by Lauren Foster
By hitting 600 gifts, we have unlocked a $40,000 contribution to The Legacy Campaign from the FORUM Board of Directors. Thank you to the board for your generous donation and your ongoing partnership with Lees-McRae.
THANK YOU for making this our biggest Giving Day yet! Your faith in us and our mission is greatly appreciated.
Not only did we unlock the $30,000 from the Board of Trustees member, but we've closed out all the challenges for today. Your support has been incredible! We are currently less than 40 away from our goal—let's finish strong!
Only 100 donors to go until we reach our Giving Day goal! Hitting 500 donors unlocked a gift from SkyLine/SkyBest. Thank you for all your support! Let’s continue to Rise to the Challenge!
766 days ago by Lauren FosterThis just in...30 more donors will unlock a $30,000 gift from a member of the Board of Trustees!
For their end-of-semester Outdoor Recreation Management project, Kolin Fadden and Nino Barnes came up with the idea for a challenge course that would give ORM majors essential experience in leading groups and conducting outdoor recreation trainings. The extensive land included in the South Campus purchase gave these students plenty of space to turn their dream into a reality. Not only was it an incredible resume-building experience for Kolin and Nino, but the college now has another valuable asset that will benefit ORM students for years to come.766 days ago by Lauren Foster
We just hit our 400 donor milestone—which means we unlocked another challenge gift! SJ Whalen was a member of the Board of Trustees, and he and his wife Mildred established a grant to help faculty members conduct research and participate in professional development. Over the years, this grant has allowed faculty members to take students on study abroad trips, receive additional certifications, and attend conferences. Patty Hawley, the Whalen’s daughter and manager of the Whalen Foundation, continues to make contributions to areas of need at the college, including this year’s $10,000 gift to The Legacy Campaign.
Since graduating with a Performing Arts degree in 2012, alumnus Jarrett W. Koski-Kohler has remained an active part of the Lees-McRae community. He’s one of the biggest supporters of the Theatre Arts department and its students, and he currently serves as a member of the Alumni Board.
Before it was South Campus, and even before it was part of Children’s Hope Alliance, Grandfather Home for Children was part of Rev. Edgar Tufts’ three-pronged mission to serve the mountain people. Learn how Grandfather Home for Children played a pivotal role in Tufts’ ministry of service and how its purchase by Lees-McRae will allow Children’s Hope Alliance to expand their work: bit.ly/3JCENrV
A $5,000 gift from the Alumni Board to The Legacy Campaign has just been unlocked. Let’s keep this amazing momentum going!
Spend a day with members of our cycling team to get an inside glimpse at the residence halls and opportunities for adventure on this new area of campus.
Meeting the 200 donor mark unlocked a gift from Warren Hudson, a member of the Board of Trustees. Hudson will be retiring from the board at the end of this fiscal year, but his dedication to Lees-McRae will continue.
When asked for his thoughts about this year’s Giving Day, Hudson said “’Transformational’ doesn’t do justice in describing the college’s acquisition of the Grandfather Home property made possible by The Legacy Campaign. Your gift to The Legacy Campaign will help expand new horizons for Lees-McRae as Dr. King and his team lead the college into a bright and exciting future."
We just hit 100 donors, which means we unlocked our first challenge gift! Arch and Connie Hoxton met at Lees-McRae in 1964 and have been supporting the college ever since. This year, they have chosen to make a $6,000 contribution to The Legacy Campaign, which will be doubled by the Bissell-Kopczynski Challenge!
766 days ago by Lauren FosterWhile the true value of South Campus can’t be quantified, here’s a breakdown of the physical assets we acquired.
Donors
View All Donors
| Class year | Donors | Raised ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | $0 |
| 1987 | 1 | $100 |
| 2028 | 0 | $0 |
| 2004 | 1 | $25 |
| 2024 | 0 | $0 |
| 2018 | 1 | $50 |
| 1958 | 0 | $0 |
| 1946 | 0 | $0 |
| 1977 | 3 | $160 |
| 1949 | 0 | $0 |
| 1945 | 0 | $0 |
| 1952 | 0 | $0 |
| 1981 | 1 | $100 |
| 1989 | 0 | $0 |
| 2027 | 0 | $0 |
| 1944 | 0 | $0 |
| 2001 | 2 | $510 |
| 2019 | 1 | $50 |
| 1947 | 0 | $0 |
| 1985 | 0 | $0 |
| 1980 | 2 | $200 |
| 1996 | 1 | $1,000 |
| 2020 | 1 | $1,000 |
| 1979 | 0 | $0 |
| 1973 | 0 | $0 |
| 2013 | 0 | $0 |
| 2021 | 5 | $195 |
| 1995 | 2 | $200 |
| 1988 | 3 | $2,100 |
| 1982 | 0 | $0 |
| 2000 | 1 | $25 |
| 2007 | 3 | $135 |
| 1960 | 1 | $100 |
| 1962 | 0 | $0 |
| 1967 | 0 | $0 |
| 1968 | 1 | $100 |
| 2003 | 2 | $1,050 |
| 1951 | 0 | $0 |
| 1953 | 1 | $1,000 |
| 1964 | 7 | $6,450 |
| 1948 | 0 | $0 |
| 2011 | 3 | $1,275 |
| 2017 | 3 | $175 |
| 2009 | 3 | $200 |
| 1990 | 2 | $2,100 |
| 2010 | 5 | $660 |
| 1971 | 6 | $1,800 |
| 2023 | 1 | $5 |
| 2022 | 6 | $155 |
| 1994 | 4 | $1,900 |
| 1992 | 1 | $250 |
| 1957 | 0 | $0 |
| 1959 | 0 | $0 |
| 1963 | 3 | $375 |
| 2025 | 0 | $0 |
| 2016 | 3 | $95 |
| 1950 | 0 | $0 |
| 1969 | 2 | $150 |
| 2002 | 6 | $1,537 |
| 1956 | 2 | $2,150 |
| 1976 | 4 | $10,450 |
| 1991 | 5 | $546 |
| 1955 | 2 | $1,100 |
| 1998 | 5 | $235 |
| 1970 | 1 | $100 |
| 1954 | 3 | $400 |
| 2014 | 5 | $241 |
| 1983 | 4 | $375 |
| 2006 | 6 | $610 |
| 1965 | 3 | $700 |
| 1975 | 6 | $4,450 |
| 1966 | 2 | $200 |
| 1978 | 1 | $500 |
| 2005 | 2 | $200 |
| 1984 | 1 | $250 |
| 1961 | 1 | $100 |
| 2012 | 5 | $400 |
| 1972 | 13 | $5,225 |
| 2008 | 4 | $310 |
| 1999 | 4 | $1,175 |
| 1993 | 7 | $1,545 |
| 2015 | 6 | $1,425 |
| 1986 | 7 | $1,250 |
| 1974 | 4 | $375 |
| 1997 | 6 | $1,550 |
| Graduation Year | Donors | Raised ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | $1,225 |
| 2026 | 12 | $252 |
| 2024 | 19 | $262 |
