WCU kicks off $100 million ‘Fill the Western Sky’ fundraising campaign
WCU’s successful fundraising campaign will allow for largescale improvements to the university’s athletic facilities. Donated photo
Western Carolina University officially kicked off the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the university’s 136-year history, an effort to secure $100 million in philanthropic support with a focus on increasing the financial resources necessary for long-delayed upgrades in facilities used by Catamount student-athletes.
Christened the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign, the historic initiative was launched publicly Jan. 23.
WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown initially unveiled her plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign shortly after her arrival in 2019, prioritizing seeking philanthropic support for enhancements to the overall student experience, including academics, athletics and community and global engagement.
The early years of the campaign, known as the leadership phase, focused on obtaining gifts of six figures and above to ensure that the overall goals and priorities of the campaign could be met. University leaders set an initial campaign target of $75 million, a goal that has already been surpassed, with much of that support directed toward the university’s academic excellence and student engagement initiatives.
During the public phase of the campaign, the emphasis now turns toward obtaining funding to complete overdue improvements to athletics facilities and increasing membership in the Catamount Club athletics booster organization, Brown said.
“Thanks to the generosity of more than 4,000 donors, we’ve raised nearly $90 million through the ‘Fill the Western Sky’ campaign,” she said. “These gifts have brought to life many of the dreams we hold for your students and your academic programs. But this campaign is about more than numbers. It’s about making bold choices to invest in the future. Today, we stand at a defining moment. It’s time to turn our focus to the future of Catamount athletics.”
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Only the third comprehensive fundraising campaign in WCU history, the “Fill the Western Sky” initiative is the first with a significant emphasis on support for the athletics program. The “Creating Extraordinary Opportunities” initiative during the tenure of former Chancellor John W. Bardo focused on raising funds for endowed professorships, while the “Lead the Way” campaign under former Chancellor David O. Belcher sought contributions for endowed scholarships.
While the initial leadership phase of the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign focused on obtaining gifts of six figures and above, the public phase seeks contributions in any amount.
For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit westernsky.wcu.edu, call 828.227.7124 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
