Brooklyn College Announces $75 Million Fundraising Campaign
Funds Will Help Build New Performing Arts Center, Create New Faculty Positions, and Provide More Scholarships

Brooklyn College has announced the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. The goal is to raise $75 million in celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the College’s founding next year.

The initial campaign goal was $50 million; the success of the campaign—with more than $44.5 million raised by this year—prompted the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn College Foundation to increase the goal.

“The additional money will be devoted to a new performing arts center that will bring the Department of Theater and the Conservatory of Music together under one roof; this proximity will make possible a unique synergy between them that will greatly enhance two of our most prominent programs,” said Brooklyn College President Christoph M. Kimmich. “What better way to celebrate seventy-five years than to raise enough capital for the first privately funded building on campus that, when completed, will be lauded for its design and innovation and serve as a fitting emblem of the College’s continuing growth.”

Contributions to the campaign include the following substantial gifts from:

• Leonard Tow, class of 1950, and his wife, Claire, class of 1952—$10 million toward the performing arts center.

• The estate of Walter Cerf, former professor of philosophy at the College—$6.5 million to the Departments of Theater, Music, and Art.

• Morton Topfer, class of 1959—$5 million toward the new library and twenty-four hour Library Café.

• Roy L. Furman, class of 1950—$1.5 million for the Furman Fellows program, which provides travel stipends to students for study abroad.

• Carol Zicklin, class of 1961—$1.5 million, which will allow the College to name a nationally prominent scholar to the first endowed chair in the Brooklyn College Honors Academy.

• Himan Brown, class of 1934, and Al Tanger, class of 2001— $1.1 million each, toward the new radio station and television studio.

• Woody Tanger, son of Al Tanger—$1.5 million toward the Library Café.

In addition, there have been six additional $1 million gifts to the campaign.

“In the past seventy-five years, Brooklyn College has risen to become a leader in higher education, providing ambitious, talented students with rigorous academic programs, a stellar faculty, and a beautiful campus. Through the continuing loyalty, support, and generous devotion of its alumni, we will continue on this path for decades to come,” Kimmich said.

Click here to find out how you can help the campaign.