Point Kicks Off Point Forward Capital Campaign for Expansion and Academics

Publication Date: 30 August 2012

As part of the relocation of its main campus from East Point to West Point, Point University is launching the public phase of its $20 million Point Forward capital campaign. With a 30 percent increase in enrollment and 73 percent more students in housing, the University is seeking funds to finish current construction and renovation projects and plan for future growth.

The public phase of the campaign will allow alumni, churches and friends of the school to contribute to the enhancement of the educational experience of Point University students. The leadership of Point Forward includes President Dean Collins ’79, campaign chair and trustee David Deeter, and honorary campaign chair and former trustee Smith Lanier and his wife, Betty.

“Point University develops students whose impact on the kingdom of God cannot be measured,” says Lanier. “When you make a gift to Point, you are empowering young men and women to change the world for Christ.”

The University’s needs for the campaign fall into three categories: building endowment, transition-year investments, and real estate renovation and acquisition. Funds from the Point Forward campaign will be used to both purchase and renovate facilities in historic West Point and the Greater Valley Area, which includes the nearby cities of Lanett and Valley, Ala.

To date, the campaign has received very positive support. An anonymous foundation led the charge, offering a $1.5 million matching grant challenge this spring. Although the University had up to a year to raise new cash and verifiable pledges in the match¬ing grant amount, through God’s help, the money was raised in less than three months. Numerous in-kind gifts and other donations have been committed to the campaign, and 100 percent of the University’s trustees have committed to Point Forward.

These early campaign successes stimulated support and have resulted in a surprise challenge grant from an anonymous donor who agreed to match donations to Point Forward through the end of 2012, dollar for dollar, up to $5 million – a challenge grant beyond any the University has ever received. If generous donors rise to the occasion to support the University during this matching grant challenge, approximately 75 percent of the capital campaign will be reached by the end of this year.

When the full campaign goal is reached, phase one of the University’s relocation will be complete and the University will be debt-free in its new facilities.

“As we have been on our amazing journey in launching our new main campus and opening additional sites, I have experienced God’s gentle moments of confirmation that He is truly with us,” says Collins. “This news has moved God’s blessing from whisper to a shout, giving me, and I hope each member of the Point community, peace that God is indeed with us in this new vision for Point University.”

The capital campaign will increase the University’s capacity to provide a quality education to more students and to expand its athletic program to offer a more complete college experience. But Point Forward represents more than just new facilities and programs. Just as Point’s founders had a bold vision more than 75 years ago, the University’s current leadership has a bold vision to empower the next generation of Christian leaders.

Visit www.point.edu/campaign to learn more about Point Forward; request campaign brochures, DVDs and other materials; and give to Point Forward.