Stellenbosch University's Development and Alumni Relations Division (DAR) marked a significant achievement last week, announcing the successful fundraising of three billion rand over the past decade.
"This remarkable achievement, realised under the leadership of our Rector, Prof Wim de Villiers, during his two terms in office, is a testament to the collective efforts of our generous donors, dedicated staff, and the unwavering support of the university community," says DAR's Senior Director, Karen Bruns.
"The generosity of our donors has enabled us to invest in cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and life-changing opportunities for our students. The efforts of our dedicated and passionate staff, along with Prof De Villiers' active involvement in fundraising initiatives including his personal participation in, amongst others, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, the Cape Town Cycle Tour and London-to-Brighton Cycle Ride, have been instrumental in propelling the university to this significant milestone."
David Marupen, Director of Fundraising, says philanthropy has played a pivotal role in the university's growth and development. "Through effective fundraising initiatives, our philanthropic donors have made significant contributions to Stellenbosch University."
Bruns says that, looking back on the past 10 years, there are so many stand-out highlights: “In 2017 we received a bequest of R194 million to benefit students in the electronic and electrical engineering disciplines; and in 2018 we received R50 million from philanthropist, SU alumnus and business leader, Jannie Mouton to build the Jan Mouton Learning Centre, named after his father. We've launched many student access and support programmes that continue to help to grow the next generation of leaders; and most recently the university was the beneficiary of a R50 million bequest directed towards talented undergraduate and postgraduate theology and music students.
"During the challenging Covid-19 pandemic, we received incredible support from individual donors, industry leaders, as well as local and international trusts and foundations, supporting emergency interventions and research. This represented much more than community solidarity, demonstrating our donors' confidence in SU as a leader in higher education on our continent. Building on this momentum, we launched our Bridge the Gap (BTG) Annual Fund in 2021 to support students in overcoming the financial challenges that stand between them and academic success. This Fund addresses issues such as food insecurity, student debt, work readiness and menstrual hygiene."
Bruns concludes: "As we transition from the leadership of our outgoing Rector Wim de Villiers to Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, we look forward to taking the institution on an ambitious next journey. DAR remains a steadfast partner in advancing Stellenbosch University's mission and inspiring philanthropy as it supports a future-focussed and inclusive university for the country, the continent and the world."
