Fundraising campaigns have come a long way since Kansas University’s first comprehensive campaign, Program for Progress, which started in 1964 with an original goal of $18 million. Today’s Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas hopes to raise $1.2 billion. Here’s a look at the university’s three previous campaigns:

Program for Progress

The campaign began in 1964 and continued through 1969, surpassing its original $18 million goal, reaching $21 million. The university used unrestricted funds from the campaign to purchase the former Chamney Dairy property at Bob Billings Parkway and Kasold Avenue and land along Oread Avenue, and to cover a portion of the cost of the Kansas Geological Survey building.

Gifts included:

l A gift from Helen Foresman Spencer that led to the construction of Spencer Research Library.

l Support from the John T. Stewart family that built a children’s institute as an addition to Haworth Hall.

l Irene Nunemaker provided funds to build Nunemaker Center, which today houses the university’s honors program.

l James Hershberger donated money that led to construction of an all-weather track at Memorial Stadium for the 1970 Kansas Relays.

Campaign Kansas

The campaign ran from July 1, 1987, through June 30, 1992. It raised $265.3 million, exceeding its $177 million goal.

Gifts included:

l A gift from the Lied Foundation Trust to construct the Lied Center of Kansas.

l K.K. and Margaret Amini provided funds for construction of K.K. Amini Scholarship Hall.

l The Kirmayer Fitness Center at KU Medical Center was constructed using funds from the Nellie Mae Kirmayer estate.

l Philip and Nancy Anschutz provided support for KU Libraries.

KU First: Invest in Excellence

The campaign ran from July 1, 1998, through Dec. 31, 2004, raising more than $653 million for KU, exceeding its original goal of $500 million.

Gifts included:

l The Hall Family Foundation funded a life sciences research building at KUMC and the Hall Center for the Humanities on the Lawrence campus.

l Charley Oswald established the Oswald Opportunities in Economics Fund to create teaching fellowships, undergraduate scholarships and economic professorships, and provided support for the School of Business.

l Dana and Sue Anderson and family helped support the Anderson Family Strength and Conditioning Center for Kansas Athletics.

l The Kansas Masonic Foundation provided funds for cancer research.

l Madison “Al” and Lila Self helped enhance the Self Fellowship Program and established a distinguished professorship in pharmacy.

l Forrest and Sally Hoglund provided funds to create the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center at KUMC.

l The Booth Family Hall of Athletics was constructed after a donation from the children of Gilbert and Betty Booth.

l Eaton Hall at the School of Engineering was built using funds from Robert J. Eaton.

“I really do think we’re all in this together,” she said.

— Higher education reporter Andy Hyland can be reached at 832-6388.