‘This is history’: Palmer fundraiser shatters goal with $30.2M raised

Palmer College of Chiropractic had big hopes for its multiyear fundraising campaign called “Daring and Driven.” Those hopes and big goals have been met and surpassed. “Daring and Driven,” which originally set a goal of bringing in $25 million to make advancements for the college and its students, has “shattered” that mark by raising $30.2 […]

Palmer College of Chiropractic had big hopes for its multiyear fundraising campaign called “Daring and Driven.” Those hopes and big goals have been met and surpassed.

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“Daring and Driven,” which originally set a goal of bringing in $25 million to make advancements for the college and its students, has “shattered” that mark by raising $30.2 million, Palmer College officials announced Friday night, Sept. 15, during a celebration to honor and thank some of the top donors at the Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport.  The fundraising campaign, which concluded Sept. 1, marked the first time a chiropractic college anywhere in the world has raised this amount of donations to support students and their learning experience. Friday’s invitation-only event — held as part of the Davenport college’s homecoming activities — attracted about 100 people. Many of the guests wore purple buttons stating “I gave to Daring and Driven” during the celebration that featured champagne drinks and many words of thanks and praise for those who supported the fundraising campaign. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would get (this much),” Dr. Dennis Marchiori, chancellor and CEO of Palmer, told the QCBJ during Friday night’s celebration. He added that he was very thankful to the many people who donated to help improve Palmer by constructing and renovating buildings on campus, improving education programs and helping Palmer students become better health professionals. Ultimately, the donations made to the “Daring and Driven” campaign will help millions of people around the world who will benefit from the services provided by Palmer graduates, he added. “This is history,” Dr. Marchiori said in a news release before the gathering. “And the total dollars raised represents so much more than just a number. This unprecedented swell of support from alumni and friends demonstrates their belief that we offer the very best chiropractic education in the world today, as well as a commitment to ensuring we will always do so. We are deeply grateful for their participation in this campaign.” The celebration was, in large part, a way to say “thank you” to the many people who help the “Daring and Driven” by making donations over the past few years. Many of those donors' names were listed on a scrolling electronic sign at the gathering. Other signs at the event showcased some of the campaign highlights, including:

• A total of 2,200 people donated to the campaign. (Dr. Marchiori told the crowd that more than half of those people were first-time donors to the college.)
• Eight of the 2,200 donors gave at least $1 million to the campaign. (This includes a Florida couple who recently donated $4 million to the college, which is is the largest gift from an individual or couple that Palmer has received in its 126-year history.) Lead gifts to the campaign included a $5 million gift from Bechtel Trusts; the $4 million gift from the Florida couple who wish to remain anonymous; and a $3.3 million gift from William Kiernan, D.C., and his late wife, Mary. George Blackwood, D.C.; Bruce Hagen, D.C., and his wife Bethel; Paul Hetrick, D.C.; Charles Keller, D.C.; and Paul and Donna VanDuyne, D.C.s, all made gifts of $1 million or more.
• More than 5,100 students are being impacted or will be impacted by the campaign.
• The fundraising campaign will mean: 317,405 total square footage of added or renovated space; 25 classrooms added; and more than $1.5 million invested in new technologies.
• $12.5 million was added to grow the college’s endowment and student opportunity scholarship program.
• Eight buildings on campus have been built or renovated, thanks to the campaign. Those buildings include: The David D. Palmer Learning Center, William J. & Mary A. Kiernan Hall – Anatomy & Technique Center, Paul & Donna VanDuyne Hall, Charles & Hildegarde Keller Terrace, Bruce & Bethel Hagen Student Union, Trevor V. Ireland Student Clinic,  PCCF Fourth Building and NCMIC Center for Business Development.

“When we started this fundraising campaign in support of Palmer College’s vision for a world of unlimited health and human potential, we knew we would need to rally the Palmer nation to support the college like never before,” Barbara Melbourne, vice chancellor for institutional advancement, said in the release. “This campaign engaged alumni that span decades and generations, including hundreds of recent alumni and even current students.” During a brief ceremony, Ms. Melbourne thanked Palmer’s supporters and donors, saying: “Together, we have done something quite incredible.” That incredible achievement seemed like an impossible goal when the fundraising campaign began, Dr. Marchiori told the crowd. He added that when the campaign goals were discussed over the years, he jokingly said “you have to take some numbers off that. It (the campaign goal) seems pretty high.” But that “Daring and Driven” campaign goal was hit and “shattered” because of great team work of campaign officials and the generosity of the donors and alumni, he added. “This took the fullness of the Palmer nation. … It’s a social wave of support for the college,” Dr. Marchiori told supporters. “This milestone in Palmer College’s storied history will have a ripple effect on Palmer students, the college, and the profession for decades to come,” he said in the release. “This is also just the start. We know that there is more work to do to rally our graduates and friends together to help Palmer reach new heights as we educate the very best chiropractors in the world.” This milestone in Palmer College history comes during a period of record-breaking enrollment growth on Palmer’s campuses in Davenport and Port Orange, Florida.