As of Dec. 31, private giving to the University is up 57 percent over the same time last year.

Gifts, planned gifts, and pledges between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2006, jumped to more than $31.5 million, up from $20 million over the same period in the previous fiscal year. The number of donors supporting the University has increased 11 percent, from 13,119 to 14,539.

"This puts us on track to meet or exceed last year's total of $52.3 million," said Michelle Dodenhoff, associate vice president for development. "We have spent the past year ramping up the development program, and we're seeing the results of that. But more importantly, the credit to the success goes to the momentum of the University. Donors are responding to that."

The mid-year giving figures show a 35-percent climb in the number of gifts of $100,000 or more and five gifts of at least $1 million.

Among the gifts are one from Greer philanthropist Dolores F. Anderson for an academic enrichment center for athletes; $500,000 from the William L. Richter Family Foundation in New York toward the purchase of one of the leading John Milton Collections in North America being housed at the Thomas Cooper Library; and $1 million to the Moore School of Business from the friends and family of Charleston business leader Charles S. Way Jr. in his honor.

President Andrew Sorensen said the increase in giving illustrates that donors see "a growing momentum of achievement" happening at the University in its quest to become one of the nation's top public universities.

"This news indicates that donors, alumni, and friends of the University recognize the success of our long-range plan to attract top students, faculty, and staff here," he said. "They are investing in aggressively building our research, outreach, and economic development efforts because they know this has a positive impact on the needs of individuals in South Carolina and across the globe."

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