News Archives - 2004

The 3M Foundation is partnering with Augsburg College to raise $600,000 in support of its new Science Center. For every dollar donated by a 3M employee or retiree, the 3M Foundation will contribute three dollars. Under this 3:1 challenge, the Foundation will match up to $100,000 in contributions from employees or retirees with a $300,000 gift. Additionally, the Foundation itself is contributing $200,000 to the Science Center.

The grant challenges the College to raise up to $100,000 in gifts and pledges from 3M employees and retirees between Oct. 15 and Dec. 10 2004, according to Alex Cirillo, Jr., vice president for the 3M Foundation.

"This is a tremendous gift and opportunity that provides Augsburg the opportunity to raise $600,000 in new funding for our campaign's top priority—the new Science Center," noted Sue Klaseus, Augsburg's vice president for Institutional Advancement. "We are excited about the 3M Foundation's leadership commitment as it will motivate other donors to step forward with similar challenge opportunities."

A new Science Center and remodeling of the College's existing science hall are at the forefront of the College's $55 million capital campaign, Access to Excellence: The Campaign for Augsburg College.

"The rich educational environment of a new science center will enable us to strengthen the solid science education we offer that provides students flexibility to pursue careers in a range of fields," said Provost Christopher Kimball. "Our mission calls us to both nurture future science professionals as well as to educate citizens with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions on increasingly technical issues in our lives."

Gifts toward the 3M Foundation challenge grant can come from any of its employees or retirees, Klaseus said, but the College's primary effort will be geared toward the hundreds of Augsburg alumni and parents who work for the company.

Cirillo said 3M will host a campaign "event" at its headquarters on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. to help raise awareness for both the campaign and this special matching gift opportunity. Klaseus will be joined at that event by Augsburg President William V. Frame, Kimball, Professor Nancy Steblay, science faculty, students and alumni sharing information about the campaign and its goals with those who attend.

Augsburg has a long and deep association with 3M dating back to Professor Courtland Agre's work at 3M in the 1950s. Agre also served as chair of the Augsburg Chemistry Department. His son, Peter, a 1970 Augsburg graduate, won the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Augsburg's capital campaign, which was formally announced in April 2004, has raised $32 million toward the goal. The new Science Center, which will serve as both a teaching and research center, is the primary project in the campaign.