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Erikson Institute Announces Major Gifts to Its $30 Million Capital Campaign

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 August 2008, 09:01 CDT

CHICAGO, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Erikson Institute, one of the nation's leading graduate schools in child development and the only one to focus exclusively on children from birth to age 8, announces leadership gifts to its $30 million capital campaign Fulfilling the Promise: The Campaign for Erikson Institute.

The announcement comes as Erikson prepares to welcome students into its new River North campus at 451 North LaSalle, a state-of-the-art facility made possible by the campaign. The new campus is the first permanent home in Erikson's 42-year history, during which it has played a leading national and local role in child development research and practice.

The Irving Harris Foundation launched the campaign nearly two years ago with a $2 million commitment that it doubled when the Erikson Board of Trustees gave a collective total of more than $12 million.

Recent campaign commitments include a substantial gift from The Pritzker Foundation, $750,000 from Polk Bros. Foundation and a challenge grant of $750,000 from a private family foundation. The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and the Harris Family Foundation have each committed $500,000, along with a Bank of America gift of $250,000. These leadership gifts, combined with other corporate, foundation and individual commitments, bring the campaign total to more than $21.5 million as of August 2008.

"We are thrilled with the level of support shown for this campaign, having now raised more than two-thirds of our goal," said Virginia Bobins, who in addition to being an alumna and campaign co-chair is an Erikson trustee. "Our success would not be possible without the commitment and dedication that has been shown by all of Erikson's board members. With their support and that of long-time partners in Chicago's philanthropic community, we are currently expanding our outreach to identify other friends willing to work with us to ensure the future of this premier center of child development education, practice and research."

The Campaign for Erikson Institute will expand Erikson's ongoing research and social policy work, underwrite community-based programs, extend the school's professional development programs, support faculty innovation and distinguished chairs, increase available funds for student scholarships and fellowships, and focus increased resources on academic programs.

In addition to campaign support, Erikson announces recent grants for programs, including two grants from McCormick Foundation: $480,000 for the Illinois Early Childhood Teaching Certification and Teacher Preparation Program and $224,000 for International Math Symposia on Early Mathematics Education. The New Schools Project received grants of $150,000 from the W. Clement & Jesse V. Stone Foundation and $100,000 from the McDougal Family Foundation. Grand Victoria Foundation awarded $110,000 to Erikson's Professional Development Program in Chicago's Western Suburbs. The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation gave $60,000 for Preschoolers' Vocabulary Acquisition for English Language Learners.

"This is truly an exciting and transformational time for us," said Erikson Institute president Samuel J. Meisels. "Erikson's growth is an indicator of the value we offer to this city, state and nation. With this new campus we are doubling our space and launching our newest clinical service, the Center for Children and Families. As our growth continues, Erikson will be able to create new programs and expand existing ones, uncovering new ways to contribute to children, families and the child development professionals who work with them."

About Erikson Institute. Erikson (http://www.erikson.edu/) is the nation's only graduate school to focus exclusively on child development from birth to age eight. An independent institution of higher education, it prepares child development professionals for leadership through academic programs, applied research and community involvement. For more than 40 years, the Institute has advanced the ability of educators, practitioners, researchers and decision-makers to improve the lives of children and their families. Erikson alumni are active in many different fields, including education, infant mental health, child care, social policy and research, family and social services and health services.

Erikson Institute

CONTACT: Lauren Hames, +1-312-558-1770 ext. 118, lhames@pcipr.com, forthe Erikson Institute; or Pat Nedeau of the Erikson Institute,+1-312-893-7160, pnedeau@erikson.edu

Web Site: http://www.erikson.edu/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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