Campaign News

For his money, investment expert sees none better than education

Longtime Green Bay resident and self-described "hometown booster" Jerry Gallagher knows a good local investment when he sees it.

Along with his wife, Janet, he is among the lead donors toward construction of a new sports and events center on the UW-Green Bay campus. The couple made a high six-figure commitment to the campaign last fall.

"Janet and I, while we are not alumni," he says, "believe strongly that the most important and powerful institutions in our community are NWTC, St. Norbert College, Bellin College of Nursing, and UW-Green Bay.

"I don't want to tell people how to spend their money, but... that's where the strength of the community and its future lie."

The Gallaghers have supported UW-Green Bay before. With a decided bricks-and-mortar orientation, they contributed to the campaign to build the Weidner Center more than a decade ago.

This time, Jerry says, their involvement had little to do with the specifics of the sports and events center plan.

"To be honest," he says, "it could have been for anything. We don't have a particular interest in sports or events and activities. We just felt it was important to support the University because they believe (this project) is important for the future."

The $32-million center is only one-quarter funded by the state. It will make UW-Green Bay's student-life facilities competitive with competing campuses, and up to par with the University's own excellent facilities on the academic side.

Gallagher believes strongly that as the UW System's youngest institution, without a 150-year tradition or alumni base, Green Bay will increasingly rely on community donors.

"People need to realize," he says, "that the days of dialing up Madison and waiting for the big public money truck to show up are long gone."

A successful stockbroker, Gallagher was a member of the University Council of Trustees during the 1990s. He credits former Chancellor Mark Perkins for educating stakeholders as to the financial pinch faced by regional public universities, and the reality that if growth is to occur, private investment is key.

It's encouraging, he says, that the reach of the current UW-Green Bay campaign appears to have extended to include names (his own included) not typically "on the horizon."

"It has become apparent that local public support is going to have to come from new places. The corporate offices, the old-line contributors, are either gone or won't be there forever.

"I hope we can awaken a sense that if something is important for the community, and people love this community, it's time to be more active."

Mother's gift was special

At the time, it was the single largest scholarship gift to the University. Mrs. Gallagher was 97 years of age, with a lively spirit. She charmed many with her explanation that while she was not an alumnae of UW-Green Bay (which graduated its first class in 1970) she wanted students here to have the same opportunity she received in Madison as a University of Wisconsin freshman back in 1916.

"My mother was always interested in scholarships," recalls her son, Jerry. "To her, there was nothing more important. Her feeling was, 'I want to see the door open to anyone who wants a college education.'"

Mrs. Gallagher passed away less than a year after making her inspirational gift. An English major, she had taught school, become a librarian, raised two sons and completed several graduate degrees. Through good stewardship, she had put herself in a position to give back.

"It was a goal of our family," recalls Jerry, "that if we were ever in a position to do so, we would contribute a million dollars to an institution that serves this community. If education and UW-Green Bay were that important to my mother, who watched every penny and lived fairly modestly...for her to make the gift she did, I was galvanized to follow suit. We've been fortunate."

Kress Events Center drive nears finish line

Groundbreaking for the Kress Events Center — the long-awaited, first-class student recreation and events center — is scheduled to take place during fall semester 2005. A late October or early November date is likely.

The $32.5 million project to renovate and expand the outdated Phoenix Sports Center is being funded by a combination of student fee revenue, state of Wisconsin bonding, and at least $10 million in private contributions from University donors.

The target for completion is the start of fall semester 2007.

Plans include a central area with a seating capacity of about 4,000 as the home court for the women's basketball and volleyball teams. The central area will seat up to 5,000 when configured for campus events such as summer orientation, commencement, student career fairs, festivals, concerts and multicultural activities.

Bidding on construction of the facility is expected in fall. University officials point to significant economic impact for the community; the most recent major construction project on campus, the total remodeling of the Laboratory Sciences Building, resulted in nearly $15 million in contracts awarded to Green Bay-area firms.

Steve Swan, assistant chancellor for university advancement, says private giving to the facility is at $8.8 million. A brick and sponsor-a-locker campaign to involve alumni, fans and others will be announced at the time of the groundbreaking.

Good for community, good for business

Their advocacy and early support helped ensure the University's ability to reach the $7.5 million threshold needed to begin construction in fall.

The chief executive officers of the respective Green Bay-based corporations say excellence in higher education, including a vibrant and attractive campus at UW-Green Bay, makes the community itself more attractive.

"We are very happy to participate in the Campaign for UW-Green Bay. That reflects how Associated Bank feels about contributing to the Green Bay community, but also about finding organizations like the University that make our contributions worthwhile. UWGB is an incredibly attractive campus in its own right. The Kress Events Center will make it even more so. It's not just for sports and athletics. It enhances the service the school can provide as well as the marketing of the school."
– Paul S. Beideman
president and chief executive officer, Associated Banc-Corp.

"We are excited to support the development of the recreation and events center. The students at UW-Green Bay will now have the facilities they need to make the most of their college experience. We were impressed with the leadership and commitment demonstrated by the students' decision to provide $15 million for the project and with the commitment from the state and other area donors. We are thrilled to be part of the team that is making this dream a reality for UW-Green Bay."
– Larry P. Ferguson
president and chief executive officer, Schreiber Foods, Inc.