Nancy Y. Bekavac, president of Scripps College, announced the kickoff of the "Campaign for the Scripps Woman," Saturday, January 22, at a dinner event for 200 alumnae, parents, and friends, at the Regency Club, in Westwood. To date, Scripps has raised $45 million in outright and deferred gifts and pledges towards its goal of $85 million, to be achieved by July 1, 2004.
Co-chairs of the campaign are alumnae and trustees of the College Maria Hummer, in Los Angeles, and Betsy Berlin, in New York. Honorary co-chairs are alumnae and emeritae trustees Mary Wig Johnson, in Palm Springs, and Ellen Revelle Eckis, in La Jolla, the great-niece of Scripps’ founder Ellen Browning Scripps and a member of the first graduating class in 1931.
President Bekavac said, "We are launching the Campaign for the Scripps Woman to make sure Scripps provides the best liberal arts education in the nation for future generations of women."
Jean Bixby Smith, chair of the Scripps Board of Trustees, noted that almost exactly ten years ago, on January 8, in the same room as Saturday night’s kickoff event, the trustees elected Nancy Y. Bekavac as the College’s sixth president. Scripps will hold additional campaign events in New York on January 27, and in London, on February 5.
The College seeks funds for eight endowed chairs and other faculty support; student scholarships and research; the new Malott Commons, a multi-use facility that will be the heart of community life after it opens February 14, 2000; construction of a new residence hall and athletic facilities; historic preservation and maintenance; renovation of music and dance facilities, new technologies; and annual operation support, among other needs.